Unexpected KC bridge joint failure causes rush hour traffic delays in Three Trails Crossing
The overnight failure of a bridge’s expansion joint led to traffic delays and longer morning commutes for those driving through the Three Trails Crossing in south Kansas City Wednesday, a Missouri Department of Transportation official said.
Crews had already planned to be out Wednesday making repairs to the bridge, which carries westbound Interstate 435 over the Blue River just west of the Three Trails Crossing, formerly known as the Grandview Triangle.
But the unexpected complication forced them to act earlier, including closings affected lanes during the morning rush hour and removing a plate that covered the expansion joint, said Matt Killion, an assistant district engineer with the Missouri Department of Transportation’s Kansas City District.
The problem involved an expansion joint that failed which caused its cover plate to break lose Tuesday night, Killion said. Crews were working to remove the rest of the cover plate to make the repairs.
The work was continuation of ongoing repairs to the bridge. Crews were out last week removing a cover plate in the right lanes. The remaining left lanes were to have been addressed on Wednesday.
After the joint failed, MoDOT”s emergency response teams responded and block lanes until more permanent traffic control could be set in place. Killion didn’t know what time the joint failed but he thought it was Tuesday evening.
Kansas City Scout traffic cameras showed morning traffic at virtual standstill about 8 a.m. as drivers headed to westbound Interstate 435 from what was formerly known as the Grandview Triangle.
The delays weren’t expected to start until after 9 a.m. when crews were originally scheduled to begin.
Bridge repairs
In addition to removing the cover plate, there is some damage to some concrete on both sides of the joint that needs repaired before traffic can be reopened.
To make it safe to complete repairs, MoDOT closed some ramps and lanes in the area. Drivers heading through the Three Trails Crossing should expect:
- Westbound I-435 to be reduced to one lane between Grandview Road and 104th Street.
- Southbound I-435 to be closed at southbound U.S. 71 and Interstate 470.
- Lanes westbound I-470 to begin to be reduced at Blue Ridge Boulevard.
- The ramp from westbound I-470 to westbound I-435 to be closed, forcing traffic to go north on I-435 or south on Interstate 49.
- The ramp from northbound I-49 to westbound I-435 to be closed.
“We’re going to try and open all lanes by 5 p.m.,” Killion said. “It looks like we’ve got good weather to do the concrete work and everything’s going to plan so far. I’d say we’d meet that 5 p.m. time frame. “
Traffic delays
In the meantime, the work is expected to cause additional traffic delays throughout the Three Trails Crossing during the closures. Drivers were urged to check KC Scout traffic cameras or WAZE for real-time traffic conditions.
Bridges are designed to expand and contract with the varying temperatures and different weather conditions. Rather than locking down bridges, they are built with gaps to allow a little movement. The expansion joints are what allows bridges to move and a cover plate covers the gap.
Once the repairs are completed Wednesday, the bridge will be safe to travel on. However, a longer-term repair will need to be performed, Killion said.
“We’ll be able to manage that and not impact traffic as much as we have today,” he said. “That’ll be something that we’re several months away from doing those repairs. There won’t be any major traffic impacts associated with that work.”
