I-49 and Route 7 Interchange Improvements

Award-Winning Excellence

The I-49 and Route 7 Interchange Improvement Project earned recognition as a winner in ACEC/MO’s 2025 Engineering Excellence Award Competition. This award recognizes the project’s innovative design, emphasis on safety, and dedication to sustainability. TREKK’s unique approach, which successfully addressed complex traffic challenges while minimizing public disruption, set a new standard for infrastructure improvement. Winning this award highlights TREKK’s dedication to delivering high-quality engineering solutions that benefit both communities and the future of transportation.

The I-49 and Route-7 Interchange Improvement Project provides Missouri residents with an enhanced connection between two primary routes in the region. The Missouri Department of Transportation’s (MoDOT) primary project goal was to replace the outdated Route 7 bridge with one that met current standards. However, with minimal additional cost, significant value was provided to Missouri residents by also enhancing safety and improving traffic flow. This heavily traveled interchange connects Kansas City to recreational areas in central and southwest Missouri, handling an average daily traffic (ADT) of 36,000 vehicles on I-49 and 16,000 vehicles on Route 7. As growth between the regions continues, an interchange that better serves the increasing traffic volumes has become a priority for MoDOT.

TREKK’s innovative solution of a unique ‘separated’ Diverging Diamond Interchange (DDI) provided some additional benefits to the typical DDI. As with most DDIs, the number of vehicle conflict points was reduced, and the flow of turning traffic was optimized. The I-49 and Route 7 DDI is special due to the through movements being separated from each other between the ramp intersections. This configuration enabled the construction of the new bridges without disrupting the existing traffic patterns. Because of the heavy traffic volumes using this interchange, the expected savings in road user costs during construction were significant.  

“This project wasn’t just about replacing a bridge; it was about creating a safer, smarter, and more efficient connection for thousands of people traveling between Kansas City and central Missouri. By using innovative design and minimizing disruptions, we delivered a solution that will serve the community for generations to come.” – Tawn Nugent, Project Manager

The project resulted in better traffic flow and enhanced safety, not only during construction but also in the final configuration. The DDI configuration has been proven to be safer and more efficient than traditional diamond interchanges due to the reduced number of conflict points, improved sight distance, and increased left-turn capacity. Research shows that DDI’s reduce rear-end, left-turn, and right-angle crashes, offering long-term benefits. The bridge configuration also accommodates future lanes of I-49, planning for traffic demands over the next 75 years.

The project also addressed sustainability by managing drainage, minimizing environmental disruption, and coordinating utilities to reduce its ecological footprint. Due to the innovative construction phasing, public disruption was minimized, resulting in economic benefits for regional businesses.

The TREKK’s engineering creativity on the I-49 and Route 7 Interchange Improvement project demonstrated innovation of the proven DDI configuration. The project’s success shows TREKK’s commitment to innovative solutions that enhance safety and support infrastructure resilience. Through collaboration with MoDOT and local stakeholders, TREKK delivered a sustainable, community-focused solution that demonstrates a new interchange configuration to be considered in other locations across the country.

Because of TREKK’s thoughtful engineering approach, the contractor was able to complete the project ahead of schedule and under budget.