Postponed: I-670 closing for bridge demolition in downtown Kansas City delayed
This weekend’s scheduled closing of Interstate 670 on the south side of Kansas City’s downtown loop has been rescheduled for next week, the Missouri Department of Transportation announced.
Crews were to close I-670 in both directions so that the Baltimore Avenue bridge, which connects downtown to the Crossroads Arts District, could be demolished, said Lairyn McGregor, a spokeswoman for MoDOT’s Kansas City District.
The new schedule calls for the closure of the Baltimore bridge over I-670 on next Thursday, McGregor said.
Beginning at 8 p.m. May 21, I-670 will close for between Interstate 35 on the west and Interstate 70 on the east so that crews can demolish the bridge and removed over the weekend. The highway is expected to reopen no later than 5 a.m. the following Monday, McGregor said.
While I-670 is closed, drivers will be encouraged to use I-70 on the northern part of the downtown loop.
Drivers can also expect to find the following ramps closed that weekend:
- The ramp from northbound Interstate 35 to eastbound I-670.
- The ramp from southbound I-35 to eastbound I-670.
- The Truman Road. ramp just past Broadway to eastbound I-670.
- The ramp from Wyoming Street to eastbound I-670.
- The ramp from eastbound Interstate 70 to westbound I-670.
- The ramp from northbound U.S. 71 to westbound I-670.
- The ramp from 10th Street to westbound I-670.
- The ramp from westbound I-70 to westbound I-670.
The Baltimore bridge is being replaced because it is nearing the end of its service life, McGregor said.
Its replacement, which will cost about $3.2 million, will be the same height and width and the existing decorative fencing will be re-attached to the new bridge. The new bridge is expected to be completed in December.
During construction on the new bridge, traffic on Baltimore will be detoured to Main Street via 14th and 16th streets.
