Full Notification

JACKSON/CLAY COUNTIES – The Missouri Department of Transportation is set to begin a short-term rehabilitation project of the Buck O’Neil (Broadway) Bridge. Crews will tentatively close southbound lanes (across the Missouri River) of the bridge beginning around 9 a.m. Saturday, May 19 and will remain closed through Saturday, December 1.

The bridge rehabilitation project will be completed in three phases. The first phase will be the closing of all southbound traffic, Saturday, May 19. The second phase will be the switching of northbound traffic to the southbound lanes in order to work on the northbound side of the bridge. That phase is expected to happen in early August, 2018. The third and final phase will be the return of all lanes to their normal traffic pattern, which is expected to be completed Saturday, December 1. All work is weather dependent.

Below is a listing of alternate routes/detours for motorists who use the Buck O’Neil Bridge:
o Southbound traffic on the Buck O’Neil (Broadway/Route 169) Bridge and I-29 will be directed to southbound I-35 and across the Christopher “Kit” Bond Bridge.
o Traffic entering onto southbound Route 169 south of I-29 will be directed to southbound Route 9 and across the Heart of America Bridge.
o A single lane of Route 169 will remain open south of Route 9 to allow access to the Charles B. Wheeler Downtown Airport. All traffic using this lane will be forced off at the southbound Richards Rd. Exit.
All northbound traffic will remain open during the rehabilitation project to ensure easy access for emergency responders and others to the Wheeler Downtown Airport.

The Buck O’Neil Bridge is more than 60 years old and sees on average of about 40,000 vehicles each work day. Crews will be working to repair cables, railing and expansion joints on the structure.

Motorists are reminded to slow down and pay attention while driving in work zones. Not all work zones look alike. Work zones can be moving operations, such as striping, patching or mowing. They can also be short term, temporary lane closures to make quick repairs or remove debris from the roadway.