Several KC-area highways are under construction. Will they open up by World Cup?
When driving on Kansas City-area highways, you might encounter construction zones and even road closures.
And in two months, an estimated 650,000 visitors are expected to come to Kansas City for the FIFA World Cup.
These fans, along with residents, will move around the city to watch matches at Arrowhead (renamed Kansas City Stadium for the event), go to the fan fest and take in all the culinary delights the Heart of America has to offer. While Kansas City’s first match is June 16, fans could start arriving sooner for their teams’ basecamps, and could stay until the quarterfinal on July 11.
Those people will add to traffic and congestion on Kansas City-area highways. And road construction doesn’t help.
Brooke Rohlfing, spokesperson for the Missouri Department of Transportation, says people should plan for longer trips during the month of the World Cup, like they do for a snow storm.
“You’re not going to experience the winter weather piece, but you may experience slower traffic conditions,” she said.
“Plan ahead, leave early,” she advised.
Here is the projected status of highway and interstate construction during the FIFA World Cup in Kansas City, according to MoDOT and KDOT.
Highways pausing or finishing construction before the World Cup
- I-70 in the Kansas City area: The interstate will reopen all three lanes from June 1 until Aug. 1. During that time, the speed limit will return to 55 miles per hour, instead of the reduced 45 mph. MoDOT said that even with the additional lanes, drivers will continue to see cones and construction equipment, because crews will continue working on the sides of the highway.
- I-29 northbound bridge over U.S. 169: The Northland bridge over both northbound and southbound U.S. 169 will be open by June 1, according to MoDOT.
Highways still expected to be under construction or closed during the World Cup
- U.S. 169 viaduct: This highway near downtown Kansas City will carry only one lane in each direction on the southbound U.S. 169 viaduct. A link between the Northland and downtown Kansas City, the northbound viaduct closed suddenly in December after MoDOT found structural issues. It was scheduled to close in August to be replaced.
- I-70 past Blue Springs to St. Louis: As part of the statewide I-70 improvements, crews will continue adding an extra lane to I-70, causing 75 miles of long-term construction zones.
- 71 Highway and Bannister: Bannister Road will be closed at 71 Highway in both directions. This project has to continue through the World Cup in order to finish before I-70 closes in the Kansas City area next year, according to MoDOT.
- Central Avenue Bridge: This bridge, which connects Kansas City, Missouri’s West Bottoms to Kansas City, Kansas’ Strawberry Hill, will remain closed during the World Cup. It has been closed since 2021. Last month, the Kansas legislature reaffirmed its plan to allocate $135 million for the Central Avenue Bridge in the state’s budget.
- 18th Street bridge: Before its demolition in February, this highway over the Kaw River connected two Kansas City, Kansas, neighborhoods: Armourdale and Argentine. KDOT plans to open a new bridge in 2027, which would be 10 years after an inspector found cracking in the structure.
