Kansas River Bridge Closed for Inspection

Published on March 24, 2022

KansasRiverBridge-1080.png

The Kansas River/Cesar Chavez bridge will close to all traffic on Friday, March 25, for inspection.

The closure is required to allow teams a safe work environment while performing a detailed inspection of recent repairs. 

Motorists are encouraged to slow down and follow detour signage:

  • Westbound traffic will be routed to American Royal Drive and continue to I-670
  • Eastbound traffic will be routed to I-670 by Kansas Avenue and 7th Street

In early 2021, the Unified Government (UG) was notified by a consulting firm for the Kansas Department of Transportation that the Kansas Avenue/Cesar Chavez bridge showed concerning signs of wear.

The UG contacted its inspection contractor and requested the bridge be looked at more thoroughly to ensure safety. The results of this review showed the structure required immediate emergency repair. Repairs were completed in August 2021. Crews replaced a joint and performed friction plate crack repair. Regular inspections will occur during 2022 to ensure the bridge remains safe for motorists.

To view or download a copy of the detour map, click here(PDF, 4MB).  The bridge is expected to re-open late Sunday, March 27.

About the Bridge

The Kansas Avenue/Cesar Chavez Bridge carries 7,000 vehicles a day, and it serves as a major arterial between Kansas City, Kansas, and Kansas City, Missouri.

It is also an essential connection for significant neighborhood revitalization and community development efforts along the Kansas River. The bridge is owned and maintained by the Unified Government and the City of Kansas City, Missouri. Despite this partnership, the cost of repairing or replacing a bridge of this size is nearly cost-prohibitive - to such an extent that meeting community needs by modernizing it would be challenging without additional support.

To learn more about this bridge and its possible future, watch the March 28, 2022, Public Works & Safety Standing Committee meeting.

 

 

Tagged as:
Back to top