Two sections of a busy Johnson County highway to close this weekend for bridge demolition
A bridge removal and replacement project that is getting underway will require two sections of a busy Johnson County highway to be shut down over the weekend, according to the Kansas Department of Transportation.
Crews on Friday will begin tearing down the Renner Road Bridge over Interstate 435 in Shawnee, which will require two long sections of Interstate 435 in both directions to be closed, KDOT said in a news release.
Around 60,000 vehicles a day travel that stretch of highway, according to KDOT traffic flow maps.
The closures begin with Renner Road, which was being shut down at 8 a.m. Thursday, and will remain closed for the duration of the project.
Lane closures along I-435 begin at 8 p.m. Friday, with the highway being shut down in both directions at 10 p.m. The highway is expected to reopen to traffic by 5 a.m. Monday.
Here’s what drivers can expect over the weekend:
- Southbound I-435 will be closed from Shawnee Mission Parkway to West 87th Street, including the ramps from Johnson Drive, Shawnee Mission Parkway and Midland Drive.
- Northbound I-435 will be closed from Kansas 10 highway to Midland Drive, including the ramps from eastbound K-10, westbound I-435, southbound Interstate 35 and West 95th Street and West 87th Street.
During the closures, the following detours will be in place:
- For eastbound K-10 traffic, drivers are being directed to take northbound I-35 to northbound Interstate 635 to westbound Interstate 70 to I-435.
- For westbound I-435 traffic, drivers are being directed to take westbound K-10 to northbound Kansas 7 highway to eastbound I-70 to I-435.
- For eastbound I-70 traffic, drivers are being directed to take southbound I-635 to southbound I-35 to I-435.
- For westbound I-70 traffic, drivers are being directed to take southbound K-7 to eastbound K-10 to I-435.
- Fort southbound I-435 traffic, drivers are being directed to take westbound Shawnee Mission Parkway to southbound K-7 to eastbound K-10 to I-435.
For local traffic, drivers will use Midland Drive, Lackman Road and 79th Street. Access will still be available to Forest Park Drive coming from the north and the Park Lanes Family Fun Center coming from the south.
The closures are necessary for bridge deck demolition and part of a KDOT project that includes bridge deck replacement, repainting bridge girders and enhancement of bridge lighting, expected to be completed in late August.
This story was originally published March 17, 2022 at 11:44 AM.
