“The health of our transportation infrastructure is vital to the safety of all who travel on Kansas’ roads, bridges, and highways,” Kelly said. “The 18th Street bridge has been a critical connection for decades, and this project will support continued success and growth in the area.”
The 18th Street bridge over the Kansas River in Wyandotte County is part of U.S. 69 and a key link for Kansas City neighborhoods. Built in 1959, the bridge has had many repairs over the years, but now it is beyond restoration and needs to be replaced.
Upon inspection in 2017, the bridge was immediately closed for corrosion and cracking repairs. During this closure, from April to December 2018, comprehensive repairs were made, extending the bridge's life. However, a long-term plan was needed as the bridge was nearing the end of its service life, and maintenance was no longer cost-effective.
“Bridges are absolutely vital to our public infrastructure — not just as part of our state highway system, but as crossings within communities,” KDOT Secretary of Transportation Calvin Reed said. “KDOT appreciates the emphasis the USDOT has placed on updating our existing bridges, such as the one on 18th Street over the Kansas River.”
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In 2019, KDOT completed a study to evaluate bridge options and identify a preferred alternative. During this study, the 18th Street Bridge Replacement Project team developed a range of alternatives, which were compared and evaluated using various engineering factors. This study’s key goals were maintaining the Kansas River crossing and improving safety for travelers through the U.S. 69 (18th Street) corridor.
The bridge currently has four 12-foot lanes with narrow shoulders measuring 2 to 3 feet wide. The new bridge will use modern design standards with 10-foot exterior shoulders and 6-foot interior shoulders. It will also include visually appealing designs for the fencing over the railroad and the exterior concrete pattern, which will be consistent with the pattern used on the Lewis and Clark Viaduct, which connects Kansas City, Kansas, to Kansas City, Missouri.
“We are extremely grateful for the grant award. We pledge to work diligently with our federal and state partners to make this bridge project successful, and we are committed to strengthening our partnerships to address other critical bridge needs within our community,” said Tyrone Garner, Unified Government Mayor. “Bridge infrastructure represents the lifeblood of transportation arterial connections that make a city and community work, thrive, and grow.”
KDOT will implement additional improvements in the corridor to utilize the full closure of 18th Street while the bridge is being replaced. These improvements will include roadway improvements along 18th Street just north and south of the Kansas River and bridge rehabilitation on the 18th Street bridges over Ruby Avenue, Metropolitan Avenue, Kansas City Terminal Railway, and Osage Avenue.
Construction is scheduled to begin in 2025, and the 18th Street Bridge will be closed to traffic throughout the duration of construction. This full closure is estimated to last approximately 24 months.
“For too long America let bridges fall into disrepair, which left people less safe, disrupted our supply chains, and cost people time and money — but now the Biden-Harris Administration is changing that with the biggest investment in our bridges since the Eisenhower era,” U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg said. “There are currently about 3,000 fewer bridges in poor condition than when our administration began."
USDOT's Bridge Investment Program grants focus on funding for existing bridges to reduce the overall number of bridges in poor condition or in fair condition at risk of falling into poor condition. The program also expands opportunities for all levels of government to apply for and be direct recipients of program funds to advance projects that meet local community needs.
“Under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law’s Bridge Investment Program, we are reinvesting in our infrastructure and ensuring vital connections for Americans who need to get to a job, a class, or a doctor,” Federal Highway Administrator Shailen Bhatt said. “These grants are helping to advance critical bridge projects across the nation that will improve overall quality of life and ensure this country’s infrastructure works for everyone.”
The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law established the Bridge Investment Program and invests $40 billion over five years to ensure the nation’s bridges remain safe and operational, meet current and future traveler needs, support local economies, strengthen supply chains to keep costs down for consumers, and create good-paying jobs across the country. More than 10,200 bridges are being rebuilt, repaired, or modernized thanks to the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. In Fiscal Year 2022, the Bridge Investment Program invested $2.4 billion in the planning and construction of 37 bridges in 29 states across the country.
