I-70 bridge damaged by fatal fire at Kansas City houseless camp to fully reopen Friday
A westbound Interstate 70 bridge that was damaged earlier this year when a fire swept through a houseless camp killing 28-year-old Elizabeth “Izzy” Lindsey will fully reopen Friday, the Missouri Department of Transportation said in a news release.
Crews will begin removing concrete barriers that had blocked off the center lanes of the I-70 bridge near Indiana Avenue and Truman Road after the morning’s rush hour, the transportation department said in a release.
Drivers should expect several lanes of westbound I-70 near the Jackson Curve leading into downtown Kansas City to be closed while crews remove the barriers. The work is expected to be completed by 3 p.m. Friday.
Highway officials closed the bridge on Jan. 13 after it was severely damaged by the fire that swept through the camp underneath it. Lindsey, who was a mother, student and volunteer, was staying at the tent encampment when the fire ignited.
The fire damaged bridge girders, keeping the highway closed for several days. When the highway reopened, the center lane was kept closed so that the bridge could be repaired. Westbound traffic was split onto the two outer lanes.
This story was originally published March 4, 2022 at 8:09 AM.
