The long-held dream of many in this region will be realized this summer with the completion of US Highway 36 - the final leg of the Chicago-Kansas City expressway. Thanks to the hard work and persistence of regional leaders such as the Tri-State Development Summit transportation taskforce, Chicago and Kansas City are now directly connected via four-lane highways. 
 
Completion Timeline
The achievement of this section of the C-KC started as far back as the 1940s with some forward-thinking men along the route. By the mid-1980s 100 cities and businesses joined together to officially form the US 36/I-72 Association. In 1999, Highway 36 was permanently dedicated as the VFW Memorial Highway thanks to the diligent work of members across the corridor.
 
In the fall of 2002, a group of citizens and government officials gathered in Macon to discuss the formation of a Transportation Development District that would make the 52 miles of US Highway 36 from Macon to Hannibal into a four-lane highway.
 
Under the leadership of the newly formed TDD, residents in four counties along the route - Macon, Shelby, Monroe and Marion - passed a special sales tax to fund the project. The Tri-State Development Summit is also a longtime supporter of the C-KC and donated financial resources to further the project.
 
With exceptional leadership and support from the citizens, a ground breaking ceremony was held in 2007 to kick off construction. 
 
Future Impacts
Northern Missouri is positioned for business and can now provide even greater highway access to companies requiring dependable transportation methods. Access and transportation are critical factors in attracting new businesses to the region and existing businesses will benefit from the increased number of individuals utilizing the highway.
 
This accomplishment represents a major improvement in highway safety and provides the foundation for increased economic development along the entire US Highway 36/I-72 corridor and beyond.