OFFICIAL - Buck O'Neil Bridge

[taxi]

I'm too lazy to scroll back through all of this thread, but is it possible to create a huge parking lot/garage underneath where the highway is now, and even keep some of the ramps for access? That would solve a lot of problems (like, where will they park?)

[flyingember]

Looking at google street view and thinking...

need to keep everything as is 4th to 3rd as you have businesses fronting on both sides of Broadway
north of 3rd it becomes Woodsweather and a railroad access road. So you have to keep that access in place.

I suppose if it was build between Woodsweather and the Hannibal approach and is elevated over the rail that heads towards the east bottom
I don't see building anything south of that as worthwhile, the parcel between 4th and Indep is quite small without the bridge

Much better would be to buy the garage at 6th and Washington, replace it with a building and build a new garage out over I-70 with an active use fronting Broadway and then take the foot of the Broadway Bridge and put a building in there. Or if the north loop is removed, you build a garage in the trench like has been covered elsewhere.

[Eon Blue]

I'm too lazy to scroll back through all of this thread, but is it possible to create a huge parking lot/garage underneath where the highway is now, and even keep some of the ramps for access? That would solve a lot of problems (like, where will they park?)

Utilizing the excavation for garages was a focal point of the ULI tap a while back. Those ramps are overkill for garage access, though. You could accomplish the same thing in a smaller footprint and encourage more appropriate travel speeds.

[kboish]

I'm too lazy to scroll back through all of this thread, but is it possible to create a huge parking lot/garage underneath where the highway is now, and even keep some of the ramps for access? That would solve a lot of problems (like, where will they park?)

Yes. That has been contemplated and seems to be doable. Of course, it is more likely that the actual redevelopment of the North Loop would probably come 10 years or so after its decommissioning and would only come along in a piecemeal manner.

[DaveKCMO]

I've heard that MoDot will not be paying for the Broadway Bridge replacement and that the city intends to fund replacement through a GO Bond that would have to go before voters. The bond would include much more infrastructure items that are yet to be determined, but would also be coupled with a property tax increase.

confirmed!

[aknowledgeableperson]

The Broadway Bridge was originally built by the city. And the city used tolls to pay for it.

[DaveKCMO]

http://www.kshb.com/news/local-news/rep ... way-bridge

MoDOT Assistant District Engineer Brian Kidwell says the least expensive option of repairing the bridge is the most likely. It will cost between $10 and $20 million. That’s the plan Kidwell said will be proposed to the Missouri Highways and Transportation Commission in July.

[scooterj]

Does anyone know exactly what they've been doing at the south end of the bridge, at 5th Street, the past few weeks? All I can find anywhere is two words: "intersection improvements".

[hartliss]

I have noticed the work as well, here is a picture from my car. It does appear to be some sort of an "intersection diet".

[DaveKCMO]

I suspect they are trying to make it ADA accessible. I'll go check it out in person.

[HalcyonKC]

It looked to me like they were putting curbs in place that would prevent all but the center lane on westbound 5th from trying to go across the intersection. The outside lanes are supposed to be for turning north or south on Broadway, but every once in a while I'll see someone in a turn lane abruptly stop when they realize they are in the wrong lane, and/or try to go straight across anyway, either of which sets the stage for a potential wreck.

[scooterj]

Now if they can just figure out a way to get people to stop turning right when heading south from under the bridge.

[taxi]

I agree with HalcyonKC and also doubt that anyone in a wheelchair or with any type of disability would ever think of even approaching that intersection. Unless, of course, it were to display a cardboard sign.

I predict no less than 100 cars will run into those curbs, daily. Keep an eye on them and notice how black they turn from tire marks.

[scooterj]

Now that they've added some really bold new lane markings and new traffic lights to the new islands, we can probably reduce it to primarily JoCo drivers who will hit the curb now.

[KCPowercat]

I'm all for increased ped connections anywhere but I can't imagine even with these upgrades many are going to use this.

[kboish]

I drove through it today. I think it is a vast improvement for traffic control for cars heading west on Independence Ave to either get on 169 N/ Get on I-35 south/ or straight to Beardsley. It makes people slow down and think about what they are doing. But you are right that it won't be used by pedestrians.

[loftguy]

I anticipate that pedestrians and bikes will now use Broadway and the new crossing.
There are now over a thousand people living west of Wyandotte.

Primarily though, the peninsula additions should make the intersection much safer from oblivious drivers making illegal turns and dangerous at speed lane-change maneuvers.

[KCPowercat]

I anticipate that pedestrians and bikes will now use Broadway and the new crossing.
There are now over a thousand people living west of Wyandotte.

Primarily though, the peninsula additions should make the intersection much safer from oblivious drivers making illegal turns and dangerous at speed lane-change maneuvers.

but do any of those people need to go west of Broadway?

[DaveKCMO]

I'm all for increased ped connections anywhere but I can't imagine even with these upgrades many are going to use this.

That's not the point of ADA. It could be one person in a wheelchair once a year and the Feds expect an accommodation, assuming there's access for able bodied users.

[flyingember]

I'm all for increased ped connections anywhere but I can't imagine even with these upgrades many are going to use this.

It's called "induced demand"

Now the someone has the choice they can use it.