‘Plan ahead, leave early’: Bridge work could cause delays on popular route to KCI airport
Drivers who take Interstate 29 to Kansas City International Airport or other popular Northland destinations might want to consider leaving early or taking a different route as a bridge replacement project is expected to cause delays this summer, a Missouri Department of Transportation spokeswoman said.
The project is entering its next phase this week and will change the flow of traffic, said Lairyn McGregor, a spokeswoman for MoDOT’s Kansas City District in a press release.
Here’s what drivers can expect:
- Crews will close one lane of both northbound and southbound I-29 at Northwest 72nd Street beginning at 7 p.m. Monday until October.
- Various lanes and ramps of I-29 will be closed overnight at Northwest 72nd beginning Monday through Wednesday.
- Crews will close the ramps from Northwest 72nd to northbound and southbound I-29 until August.
- Crews will close Northwest 72nd between Northwest Prairie View and Northwest Roanridge roads beginning at 7 a.m. Wednesday until October. Westbound traffic will be detoured on Northwest Roanridge to Northwest Barry Road to Northwest Prairie View Road. Eastbound traffic will be detoured along Northwest Prairie View to Northwest 64th Street to northbound I-29.
Crews are replacing the twin bridges that carry I-29 over Northwest 72nd. The bridges, which carry six lanes of traffic, have reached the end of their service lives. The $6.9 million project to replace the bridges is funded through both state and federal funds.
During the project, I-29 will be reduced to two lanes in both directions. Crossovers will shift traffic during multiple phases of construction.
In addition to replacing the bridges, MoDOT is looking at improvements to Northwest 72nd, including five-foot bike lanes in both directions and a six-foot sidewalk along the eastbound lanes.
This story was originally published May 1, 2023 at 7:22 AM.
