Construction backups have hit Highway 350 and Noland Road in KC — again. Here’s why
Construction near Kansas City’s Missouri 350 and Noland Road intersection slowed traffic in the area for months before the work wrapped up earlier this year.
Traffic cruised along the main corridor connecting Kansas City, Raytown and Lee’s Summit through the small burg of Knobtown over the summer months, but now, work at the intersection is ramping up again.
With lane closures, slowed traffic and backups during commuting hours, some have wondered: “Again?! Why?!”
The initial project, helmed by Kansas City, replaced a water line that ran through the area. Now, the state’s Department of Transportation is spearheading a project that will replace the bridge that carries the Rock Island Trail over Missouri 350, which will also be widened at the intersection.
“The city project was necessary to move the water line out of the way to make way for the bridge project,” said Matt Killion, assistant district engineer for the Department of Transportation’s Kansas City District. “As far as lining up schedules, it’s really different types of work. Replacing a water line is much different than doing road work, bridge work, roadway widening, that kind of thing.”
Work on the state’s project began in recent weeks, and traffic now funnels down to one lane in either direction underneath the bridge, which has led to extended commutes in the area.
Highway 350-Noland Road work
Kansas City’s water line project replaced several miles of water main in coordination with the state’s project, said Jackson Overstreet, a spokesman for the city’s water department. Work began in 2023 and wrapped up in early 2025.
“In short, the department had looked at that area for a while to do work but when MODOT decided to do some work in the area, KC Water took the chance to get in and do some main replacements so we wouldn’t have to go and tear up what MODOT just redid at a later date,” Overstreet wrote in an email.
That project cost around $3.5 million, he said.
Work on the state’s project is expected to run through October 2026, and motorists should continue to expect lane closures through then, Killion said.
Missouri 350 will have wider lanes and standard shoulders under the new bridge, and the eastbound turn lane from the highway onto northbound Noland Road will also be extended. The finished project is expected to cost around $5.8 million.
Over the coming weekend, Nov. 8 and 9, the highway will close entirely in the area, as work crews demolish the old bridge. There will be no signed detours for the weekend closure, Killion said. The state’s contractor has until March 1 to get the new bridge back open for trail users, who will have to use on-street options to get around the closure during construction, he said.
“We worked with the county and tried to reduce the amount of time the bridge would be closed for construction,” he said. “As part of that, we determined the November through March 1st timeframe would be best. Trail traffic peaks obviously in spring, summer and fall, so we’re going to construct the bridge during the winter months to avoid major impacts.”
The state is asking motorists to stay alert, drive without distractions and to obey reduced speed limits in the area.
This story was originally published November 3, 2025 at 5:21 PM.
