The cities of Belton and Raymore are teaming with Cass County and the Missouri Department of Transportation to build a new interchange on Route 71 two miles south of Route 58. The North Cass Parkway interchange will provide Belton, Raymore, Peculiar and much of northern Cass County additional access when the project is completed by 2010. 

The new interchange will initially connect to an extension of Dean Avenue and Hubach Hill Road on the east side, and Peculiar Drive on the west. Peculiar Drive will be realigned to accommodate ramps on the west side.

The project was awarded to Ideker Inc. of St. Joseph, Mo. in summer 2008. Construction is well under way.

While through traffic on Route 71 will occasionally be restricted, construction will have little effect on the highway. Access to the Pickering Place and Pickering Estates neighborhoods will change as a realigned Peculiar Drive is constructed, but MoDOT plans to keep the road open throughout the project.

Completion of the North Cass Parkway interchange will help alleviate traffic congestion at the Route 71/Route 58 interchange to the north. That interchange is currently the busiest in Cass County, and Route 58 exit ramp traffic often backs up onto southbound Route 71 on weekday evenings.

Bridge abutments and piers are poured, steel beams have been placed, and the deck was poured in May. Meanwhile, earthwork continues nearby. The north bypass of relocated Peculiar Drive at Cambridge is now open, as well as relocated Peculiar Drive. Ramps on the southbound side are under construction.