The Central Avenue Bridge had a big win at the Unified Government meeting on Thursday, November 30. The Commissioners unanimously agreed to remove Central Avenue Bridge demolition from the community master plan. For now, the bridge is saved.

This is an important first-step to either reopening the existing bridge or building a new bridge. Because the bridge had been slated for demolition, it was impossible to seek outside funding from the state and federal governments to repair or replace the bridge. Removing the bridge demolition from the master plan now allows the UG and the State of Kansas to collaboratively plan for the repair or replacement of the bridge.

Thank you to the Commissioners, both outgoing and incoming, for their support, and to the residents, small businesses, nonprofit leaders, and industry officials who stepped forward to speak about the importance of the Central Avenue Bridge. Over 200 of you signed the petition to save the bridge.

Saving the bridge was only the first step. The cost to repair or replace the Central Avenue Bridge will be in the tens of millions of dollars, potentially more by the time it is realized. That means no single government entity is going to fund the bridge’s replacement. Rather, getting this important economic artery for the KC Region re-opened is going to take local, state and federal governments all working together, which could prove to be a gargantuan task.

I will be working closely with the Kansas Department of Transportation in the coming 2024 legislative session to make sure they have the resources they need to accomplish the planning phase of the Central Avenue Bridge.

I believe that with support from President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and the Build Kansas Fund, which provides matching dollars to local governments to take advantage of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, the Central Avenue Bridge could be given serious consideration because it serves as a crossing for a major river, a stateline and a rail yard - all federal interests.

There will be moments of uncertainty as we proceed forward, but I want you to know that your efforts and contributions have made and will continue to make an impact. Your role in this certainly isn’t over. We’re all going to have to work together well into the future to make sure this project is fully realized.



I'd encourage you to read the full Kansas City Star story about the Central Avenue Bridge.