Kansas City Area Communities Kick off Project to Bridge the State Line

bridge rendering Kenneth Road

The rendering of the proposed two-lane replacement bridge over the Blue River.

Kansas City is celebrating the bridging of communities, literally. The kick-off event for a new construction project is bringing together multiple cities, counties, and states to reopen a major connector from Kansas to Missouri, providing direct access to nearby Jackson County recreation fields.

The closed bridge that crosses the Blue River on Kenneth Road in south Kansas City is getting a major makeover with the help of the City of Kansas City, the City of Grandview, the Loch Lloyd neighborhood, Jackson County, and the City of Overland Park, Kan. Multiple municipalities held a celebration surrounding the removal of the existing Bailey bridge, the first step in a process that will lead to a brand new two-lane bridge at the site.

The one-lane portable, pre-fabricated Bailey bridge was placed as a temporary solution after the permanent bridge collapsed in 1996 when a dump truck damaged it beyond repair. However, the Bailey bridge was damaged by a concrete truck a few years ago and has been closed off to the public since. The City of Grandview will give a new life to the bridge by placing it along the Presidential Trail; a pedestrian trail eventually connecting the Longview Trail to the historic Truman Farm Home in Grandview. That trail is expected to begin construction in 2017.

McClure Engineering Company (MEC) was selected to provide the survey and design work for the 365-foot replacement bridge as well as improvements to the roadway approach and a new park entrance. Collaboration is at the heart of this project, which will benefit residents of several of our Kansas City area communities.

The bridge removal ceremony was held on the Missouri side of the bridge and will include remarks by Sixth District Kansas City Councilman Kevin McManus, Fourth District Jackson County Legislator Dan Tarwater, and Grandview Public Works Director Dennis Randolph. Following remarks, project partners will pull off a section of the historic bridge and enjoy a barbecue lunch at the nearby Kenneth Polo Fields Park Shelter.