KC’s new riverfront pedestrian bridge opened early by mistake. Here’s what to know

A new pedestrian and cyclist bridge along Grand Boulevard in Kansas City was accessible over the weekend — but it wasn’t supposed to be. The city says barricades were moved without authorization, and the bridge won’t officially open until early May.

FULL STORY: New KC pedestrian bridge was open over the weekend. It wasn’t supposed to be

Here are key takeaways:

• The new pathway follows the existing Grand Boulevard bridge and connects the River Market over train tracks to the Berkley Riverfront, separating pedestrians and cyclists from vehicle traffic.

• City public works spokesperson Ryan McMonigle said barricades were moved over the weekend and that the same thing happened two weekends prior. Work on the deck overlay and other finishing touches remains before the bridge can officially open.

• The existing Grand Boulevard road bridge is curved and has no sidewalk, posing safety concerns for people on foot and bikes sharing the road with vehicles. The new bridge creates a faster, more direct connection between the two neighborhoods.

• Sam Hagan, president of the River Market Community Association, said the bridge will be “a huge thing” for connectivity and expects heavy use.

• The bridge cost just under $16 million, funded by future city bonds, GO bonds and casino lease revenue.

• The bridge comes as the streetcar extension to the riverfront, which could also open in May, continues construction. The 0.7-mile extension will similarly connect CPKC Stadium and the riverfront to the River Market.

The summary points above were compiled with the help of AI tools and edited by journalists. The full story in the link at top was reported, written and edited entirely by journalists.