MoDOT closing portion of I-70 for bridge demolition

JACKSON COUNTY – MoDOT Kansas City closed the Blue Ridge Blvd. bridge over Interstate 70 at 9 a.m. on Wednesday in preparation for its demolition. 

Crews will demolish the Blue Ridge Blvd. bridge over I-70 beginning at 2 a.m. Saturday requiring the total closure of portions of I-70 in each direction, until approximately 5 a.m. on Monday.

Southbound Blue Ridge Blvd. traffic will be diverted to eastbound U.S. 40 to Noland Rd. 

Northbound Blue Ridge Blvd. will be diverted to westbound 43rd Street to Sterling Ave. until approximately mid-November.

Eastbound I-70:

• Crews will close eastbound I-70 between I-435 and Noland Road. All eastbound I-70 traffic will be diverted to I-435. The signed detour for eastbound I-70 is southbound I-435 to eastbound I-470.

Westbound I-70:

• Crews will close westbound I-70 between I-470 and Blue Ridge Blvd. All westbound I-70 traffic will be diverted to MO Route 291 (I-470). The signed detour for westbound I-70 is southbound I-470 to northbound I-435.

Work will begin at approximately 2 a.m. on Saturday with the following traffic changes:

• Beginning at 2 a.m. on Saturday, June 3, crews will close one lane of eastbound and westbound I-70.
  • Additionally, they will close all of the following ramps:
    • The ramp from southbound I-435 to eastbound I-70/Blue Ridge Cutoff.
    • The ramp from northbound I-435 to eastbound I-70/Blue Ridge Cutoff.
    • The ramp from Blue Ridge Cutoff to eastbound I-70.
    • The ramp from eastbound I-70 to Blue Ridge Cutoff.
    • The ramp from southbound I-470 to westbound I-70.
    • The ramp from northbound I-470 to westbound I-70.
    • The ramp from Lee’s Summit Rd. to westbound I-70.
    • The ramp from Noland Rd. to westbound I-70.
• Beginning at 3 a.m. on Saturday crews will reduce eastbound and westbound I-70 to one lane.
• Beginning at 4 a.m., crews will completely close eastbound I-70 (between I-435 and Noland Rd. and westbound I-70 (between I-470 and Blue Ridge Blvd.). All motorists will need to use the signed detour or seek alternate routes.

KANSAS CITY ROYALS FANS: 

Motorists headed to Kauffman Stadium should seek alternate routes such as I-470 and I-435 if necessary. Fans coming eastbound along I-70 can exit at Manchester Trafficway and access the stadium via Stadium Drive. Motorists are encouraged to plan ahead, leave early and allow for extra time as there could be delays in the area.

Crews anticipate that the demolition will be completed and the roadway will re-open no later than 5 a.m. on Monday. This is all part of the project to replace the Blue Ridge Blvd. Bridge over I-70, as well as making interchange improvements to the ramps and approaches. 

Throughout construction, there will be intermittent lane closures along eastbound I-70. These lane closures are for traffic shifting, pavement marking and barrier work. There will be three lanes of traffic along eastbound I-70 through construction with the exception of the intermittent lane closures. Motorists should anticipate various lane closures, ramp closures and bridge work through approximately the end of 2023.

This bridge is included in Governor Mike Parson’s $351 million Focus on Bridges Program which will repair or replace 250 bridges across the state.