How new murals capture notorious reputation of Independence Avenue’s truck-eating bridge
Drivers approaching this bridge known for destroying tall trucks have some new, very obvious reminders of the bridge’s appetite for destruction.
Constructed in 1912, the notorious Independence Avenue truck-eating bridge has recently been revitalized with a vibrant set of four over-sized murals embellishing the crumbling concrete structure. The murals each depict different interpretations of the bridges’ colorful history, slicing open the tops of too-tall trucks that attempt to pass beneath it.
According to police, as many as 40 trucks have smashed into the low-slung railroad bridge since 2020. The bridge has a maximum clearance height of only 12 feet. Warning screens and flashing lights have deterred some, but not all trucks from hitting the bridge. With its low clearance and some help from social media, the bridge has become infamous for such accidents. A landmark in Northeast Kansas City, the bridge has several Facebook pages, including one, Independence Avenue Truck Eating Bridge KCMO, a public page with over 19,400-members and several posts of trucks that have plowed into the bridge.
To address its unsightly appearance and draw attention to the 122-year-old bridge, the Northeast Chamber of Commerce commissioned four murals to be painted by five artists on the corners of the bridge. ReBuild KC, a city program, awarded the Northeast Chamber of Commerce a $17,000 grant for a blight remediation project, which was used to fund the murals.
The artists braved hot weather, humidity, noise, and a constant barrage of traffic to complete the murals, one on each corner of the truck-eating bridge.
One muralist, Mike Elder, owner of Black Sheep Cakes in Wellington, Missouri, who used to work in the trucking industry, used Montana 94 aerosol paint for his vibrantly-colored mural at the northeast corner of the bridge. Elder’s mural, his first, features a purple troll with its tongue flipping a monster truck, sending its cargo of Kansas City-themed items flying from the back of the truck. The mural also includes a nod to different aspects of Kansas City, such as the Chiefs, Royals, and the shuttlecocks. “I saw the opportunity come up to do this mural, and I thought, oh, yeah, there’s got to be a troll under the bridge eating trucks,” said Elder. His mural is painted on the largest wall of the bridge. “So it’s a very literal, literal interpretation of the bridge, you know, truck-eating bridge,” he said. “But the whole idea is just to have fun with it.”
The murals show the bridge as a monster attacking oncoming trucks. Murals can raise awareness about the bridge’s low clearance and involve community participation, including local artists and residents. Bobbi Baker-Hughes, president and CEO of the Northeast Kansas City Chamber of Commerce, oversaw the project, with 15 artists submitting 39 designs for consideration.
Other muralists include sisters Michelle Renn of Kansas City, a graphic designer, and muralist Merry Burleson of Merry Bee Murals of Harrison, Arkansas. The sisters covered the southeast corner wall with a mural called “Venus Fly Truck” designed by Renn. “Our mural is covered with these evil-looking Venus flytraps just waiting to snatch up innocent trucks as they drive through,” said Renn, who lives nearby and thought it would be fun to participate in the project. “Michelle did a great job on the design,” Burleson said. “She’s a very detail oriented person, which is fantastic. But for some of these jobs, they just need to be bigger, bigger, bigger.”
The southwest corner of the bridge is now has a mural featuring a bright blue hippo eating an orange and gray truck designed and painted by Alex Eickhoff of Eye Cough Art. “My design is based on the beast of the truck-eating bridge, so I’m creating a character that will kind of personify or animate the bridge,” said Eickhoff. “It’s a simple design, but it’s a hippopotamus and a hippo alligator-hybrid type thing because it’s got some scales on the back,” he said. “He’s devouring a truck and hopefully it is a warning for any truck drivers coming down the hill.”
The final mural, designed and painted by Brian Mapes of We Become More, was completed last week despite the scorching heat. Situated on the northwest corner, Mapes’ mural posed additional challenges due to the height of the walls and a large staircase running through it. The artwork features a pair of truck-shaped sea creatures mirrored against each other.
“There’s a lot of darkness in the avenue and in Northeast Kansas City in general,” Mapes remarked. “Many people are struggling, and the painting’s undertone encourages turning away from some of the hard times and poor decisions we face, like driving under a bridge.” Mapes explained that his mural’s message is about turning away from darkness toward light, love, and positivity. “It’s meant to be a beacon of hope, among other things.”
The murals, which will be dedicated on Sept. 22, can be seen on the Independence Avenue truck-eating bridge located on Independence Avenue between Wilson Avenue and White Avenue.
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This story was originally published August 12, 2024 at 5:30 AM.
