Kansas City’s Rock Island Bridge project to begin construction as early as October
Spanning both sides of the state line, Rock Island Bridge — a first-of-its-kind entertainment district that will include bars, coffee shops and restaurants — could begin construction as soon as October, the developer said.
On Thursday, the Unified Government of Wyandotte County/Kansas City, Kansas, approved a special use permit for the development.
“It’s another box that we checked off last night,” said Michael Zeller, a partner at Flying Truss LLC, which is building the venue.
The project will transform the rusty locomotive bridge into an entertainment destination over the Kansas River.
The UG has invested $2 million which is expected be repaid through property tax collections and a special sales tax charged on the bridge.
Zeller said construction is expected to start sometime between October and December. He said the project could be finished as soon as next summer since it will take 9 to 12 months to build.
The area will be filled with several restaurants, including Slap’s BBQ — among the most popular barbecue joints in the area.
In addition to new dining and drinking options over the water, the bridge will provide a pedestrian connection to trails on both sides of the state line.
There are also plans to have a zip line running from the roof of Hy-Vee Arena and landing on the west side of the Kaw in Armourdale. From there, riders will be able to walk back to the West Bottoms across the bridge.
