Crews with the Buck O’Neil Bridge project will be making significant traffic pattern changes beginning in February. This includes the total closure of southbound U.S. 169 from the Charles Wheeler Downtown Airport to Fifth Street in downtown Kansas City beginning on Monday, Feb. 6, until fall 2024.
This, more than 600-day closure, is part of the construction of the new U.S. 169 Buck O’Neil Bridge and will allow crews to tie the new southbound bridge into the new flyover ramps to Interstate 35. Traffic control for this work will require various lane closures beginning overnight on Saturday, Feb. 4. Motorists can expect southbound U.S. 169 to be closed no later than rush hour on Monday morning, Feb. 6. More details will be announced soon. All work is weather permitting.
- Northbound U.S. 169 will remain open to traffic during this time.
- Southbound U.S. 169 traffic will be detoured to I-29/I-35 (Christopher Bond Bridge).
- Access to and from the Charles Wheeler Downtown Airport will be available via southbound U.S. 169 at MO Route 9.
- Southbound U.S. 169 south of MO Route 9 will be open for airport access only. There will be no access across southbound U.S. 169 via the Buck O’Neil Bridge.
Motorists should also note that beginning in approximately March 2023, the following ramps will be closed until Dec. 2023:
- The ramp from westbound I-70 to southbound I-35.
- The ramp from Fifth Street to southbound I-35.
The current Buck O’Neil Memorial Bridge is a triple arch bridge carrying U.S. Route 169 over the Missouri River and serves as a key regional connection between downtown Kansas City and communities north of the river. While safe, the bridge is nearing the end of its projected service life.
For more information about MoDOT news, projects or events, please visit the MoDOT website at www.modot.org/kansascity. For instant updates, follow MoDOT_KC on Twitter or share posts and comments on their Facebook page at www.facebook.com/MoDOT.KansasCity/. Sign up online for workzone updates or call 888-ASK-MODOT (275-6636).
