Closures start for Buck O’Neil Bridge replacement. Here’s how to get around Kansas City
Update: The Missouri Department of Transportation said scheduled closures the weekend of March 5 were postponed to accommodate event traffic.
Getting around and through downtown Kansas City will get a little trickier starting Monday as long-term closures begin for the Buck O’Neil Bridge replacement project.
The closure of part of the loop of highways that circle downtown KC is expected to have significant impact on drivers, especially during rush hour. The closures will be in place for 275 days.
“Motorists should plan ahead for backups and add extra travel time to their commute,” said Markl Johnson, a spokesman for the Missouri Department of Transportation’s Kansas City District.
Here’s what drivers can expect (Closures will be for 275 days unless otherwise noted):
- Crews will close northbound Interstate 35 from 12th Street to eastbound Interstate 70 on the west side of downtown Kansas City on Monday. During the closure, a new retaining wall will be built along I-35 and new bridge will be built over Sixth Street.
- Crews will close northbound I-35 to westbound I-70 on the west side of downtown KC on Monday for bridge rehabilitation work.
- Crews will close the ramp from westbound Interstate 670 to 12th Street on Monday for bridge demolition work.
- Crews will close northbound lanes of Beardsley Road to Sixth Street on Tuesday for bridge demolition work. The closure will last about three weeks.
- Crews will close the eastbound I-70 exit ramp to Broadway Boulevard on Tuesday for bridge demolition work. The closure will last about three weeks.
- Crews will close I-70 from Beardsley Road exit ramp to the entrance ramp of northbound I-35 to eastbound I-70 on Friday for bridge demolition work. The highway will reopen on March 14.
About 23,950 cars, trucks and buses use the northbound stretch of I-35 in that area on weekdays, according to 2020 annual average weekday traffic volume. A marked detour will take drivers traveling on I-35 to reconnect with northbound U.S. 169 highway.
The closures are part of the $220 million project to build a replacement for the aging Buck O’Neil Bridge, which is being built in the northwest corner of downtown Kansas City. The bridge, which opened in 1956, is a key connection between the Northland and downtown Kansas City. The bridge, formerly known as the Broadway Bridge, is nearing the end of its projected lifespan.
Kansas City and MoDOT worked together to secure the funding for the new bridge. Massman-Clarkson, A Joint Venture, is the design-build contractor chosen for the project, which is expected to be completed in 2024. The team includes the following Massman Construction Co., Clarkson Construction Co. and HNTB Corporation, all of Kansas City.
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This story was originally published March 4, 2022 at 7:27 AM.
