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Kansas City Adds Another Interstate

You might have noticed a few changes while driving along US 71 Highway. For instance, you may have realized while traveling south that the sign for Grandview has been replaced with a sign for Joplin. This is but one of several changes that will take place over the next few months for US 71, which will soon become Interstate 49.

The new interstate should be completed in November, with the official unveiling coming December 12 at 12 p.m. That’s 12-12-12-12 for those scoring at home.

The new highway will stretch 180 miles from New Orleans to Manitoba. Susan Wilson spoke with MODOT’s  Chris Matlock, the project manager for Interstate Highway 49, about why the new interstate is needed. Wilson also spoke with Christ Gutierrez, president of SmartPort—a non profit organization that promotes economical development—about what the changes could mean economically for KC.  
*More Information From MODOT

This story was produced for KC Currents. To listen on your own schedule, subscribe to the KC Currents Podcast.

A native of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Susan admits that her “first love” was radio, being an avid listener since childhood. However, she spent much of her career in mental health, healthcare administration, and sports psychology (Susan holds a PhD in clinical psychology from the University of Pittsburgh in Pittsburgh Pennsylvania and an MBA from the Bloch School of Business at UMKC.) In the meantime, Wilson satisfied her journalistic cravings by doing public speaking, providing “expert” interviews for local television, and being a guest commentator/contributor to KPRS’s morning drive time show and the teen talk show “Generation Rap.”
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