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Project Description: |
This project implements a phase of the US 169/I-70 Beyond the Loop Planning and Environmental Linkages (PEL) Study Project Area E: Missouri Route 9. The PEL report and associated appendixes are available at http://www.beyondtheloopkc.com/.
Route 9 serves as a major North/South connection from the Central Business District of Kansas City to North Kansas City and points further north. The trajectory of Route 9 carries the elevated highway over the Missouri River via the Heart of America Bridge and through the River Market and Columbus Park neighborhoods. Due to it being elevated, the highway acts as a definitive border between these two neighborhoods. With the construction of Highway 9, Independence Avenue, which historically ran East/West uninterrupted from the Pendleton Heights neighborhood to the River Market, is forced to deviate to make room for the ramps and connections needed for the Highway 9/North Loop connection. From the perspective of land use and value, the areas adjacent to Highway 9 have been depressed since the construction of Highway 9. Furthermore, Columbus Park is physically isolated from surrounding neighborhoods because of highway and railway infrastructure on all four sides.
The intent of this project is to reduce the states asset obligations by removing multiple 30+ year old bridges, the retaining walls necessary for the elevated highway and restore the historic street grid network between the River Market, Columbus Park, and Central Business District (CBD).
The project will also include a cycle track and pedestrian connections from the Heart of America Bridge to Admiral Boulevard and similar improvements along the reconnected Independence Avenue. The project will assist in freight movement by having a better connection from I-70 to the Heart of America Bridge to serve the North Kansas City and Harlem industrial areas.
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Scope: |
The intent of this project is to reduce the states asset obligations by removing multiple 30+ year old bridges, the retaining walls necessary for the elevated highway and restore the historic street grid network between the River Market, Columbus Park, and Central Business District (CBD).
The project will also include a cycle track and pedestrian connections from the Heart of America Bridge to Admiral Boulevard and similar improvements along the reconnected Independence Avenue. The project will assist in freight movement by having a better connection from I-70 to the Heart of America Bridge to serve the North Kansas City and Harlem industrial areas.
Major work activities will be include converting MO 9 from an elevated freeway to an at-grade urban arterial with complete streets components and reconnecting Independence Avenue as a complete street between Grand and Charlotte.
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Total Budget in Year of Expenditure dollars (YOE):
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$34,650,000
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