The Missouri Department of Transportation and the City of Kearney, MO will host a groundbreaking ceremony on Tuesday, April 12 at 11 a.m. to help celebrate the construction of a new Interstate 35 and 19th Street Interchange.

The ceremony is open to the public and will take place at the Kearney Water Tower, 1306 Watson Drive, which is located at I-35 East Outer Road, just south of Route 92, in Kearney.

The ceremony will feature speakers including MO Congressman Sam Graves, Kearney Mayor Randy Pogue, MoDOT Director Patrick McKenna and other honored guests.

This project will cost approximately $27 million dollars to construct and will feature a new interchange at I-35 and 19th Street (144th St.). The new interchange will cross over I-35 and will include ramps to and from I-35. This project will also include a Diverging Diamond, the second one in Clay County. The project will also feature two separate roundabouts, new bike lanes, along with a walking trail and sidewalks.

This is a cost-share project with the City of Kearney and MoDOT. The groundbreaking ceremony will take place rain, or shine.

KPGZ News - Brian Watts contributed to this story