Spurs, Bypasses and Beltways: Missouri

English: Aerial view of Kansas City, Kansas, looking southwest. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

The auxiliary interstates in the state of Missouri are located in the St. Louis area and in the Kansas City area. Interstate 170 in St. Louis is just over 11 miles long and leaves I-270 at Exit 26A to travel south to I-64 in Richmond Heights.

Providing a bypass for St. Louis is Interstate 270. Interstate 70 dips south into St. Louis. Those drivers who are passing through the area and wish to avoid the city should travel I-270 which runs north of the city from Exit 232 on I-70 in Missouri to Exit 15 at I-70 in Illinois. That is not all for this highway. At Exit 232 I-270 also continues south completing its 51 miles at the juncture of I-55 and I-255 near Mehlville. Another highway that joins I-270 to complete a beltway around St. Louis is Interstate 255. It travels 31 miles from I-55/I-270 near Mehlville to I-270 near Pontoon Beach, Illinois.

Kansas City is crossed by many interstates in both Kansas and Missouri. Interstate 470 leaves I-70 at Exit 15 A/B and travels south and then west for 17 miles before ending at I-435. With less than three miles Interstate 670 joins I-70 in Kansas City, Missouri with Kansas City, Kansas to provide another route across the Kansas River near the Kemper Arena.  Interstate 635 is 13 miles long and connects I-35 with I-29. Forming the beltway around Kansas City in both Kansas and Missouri is Interstate 435 which is 81 miles in length. Finally, north of Kansas City Interstate 229  forms a 15-mile bypass for St. Joseph.