OFFICIAL - Buck O'Neil Bridge

[moderne]

On the Sunday night football game they had a promo for next weeks game in KC. Showed what appeared to be a DT view from Wheeler Airport, but the Broadway bridge was replaced by the Paseo Bond bridge!

[KCPowercat]

yeah the SNF skyline shots are a bastardization of any city's skyline. I believe they also have the PAC in that view, at least they used to.

[normalthings]

One of the structures on the bulldoze list for the central alignment is being renovated.

https://compasskc.kcmo.org/EnerGov_Prod ... b=moreinfo

[KCPowercat]

max out that eminent domain $

[Critical_Mass]

Do we know which alignment has been selected between 'Central' and 'West' alternatives?

'West' seems so much better for unifying the neighborhood and keeping some of the land developable.
'Central' leaves the surviving Landmark Lofts block an isolated island and the NW corner of 4th & Broadway would be split by an overpass. It looks to prioritize keeping what we have now, avoiding one left-turn to keep Broadway a more direct northland commuter route.

I'd take a boring bridge if we could get the 'West' alignment.
A right turn heading north from 12th street could become a more attractive access point for many downtown commuters since it will then have the direct connection.

[shinatoo]

One of the structures on the bulldoze list for the central alignment is being renovated.

https://compasskc.kcmo.org/EnerGov_Prod ... b=moreinfo

That building is at 12th and Washington. Are you sure it's going to be torn down? Or am I reading the address wrong?

[moderne]

Mayor Lucas advocating old bridge remain as ped/bike crossing.

[normalthings]

Mayor Lucas advocating old bridge remain as ped/bike crossing.

Doesn’t make a ton of sense when the new one is the have a big bike/ped section

[KCPowercat]

God forbid we have two for non cars.

Worth looking at ongoing costs. Could be a draw like Grid had mentioned wanting over and over.

[DaveKCMO]

The city would have to take ownership of it. Not a huge problem if it's just going to carry bikes and peds.

[smh]

Would you leave it in place or move it to another spot on the river?

[KCPowercat]

Leave it. Make it the main hook into nkc through harlem. Loving the idea more and more assuming it isn't cost prohibitive

[TheLastGentleman]

Having a whole bridge, and a fairly interesting one at that, converted exclusively to ped/bike seems like a no brainer honestly. Definitely a more pleasant experience than walking or biking alongside freeway traffic, which is what we’d get if everything was relegated to the new bridge

[Riverite]

Yes and make the bank around the airport a park!

[smh]

Leave it. Make it the main hook into nkc through harlem. Loving the idea more and more assuming it isn't cost prohibitive

Suppose I naively assumed it would be in the way of the new bridge? Maybe not? I can't remember what the last drawings indicated.

[flyingember]

Leave it. Make it the main hook into nkc through harlem. Loving the idea more and more assuming it isn't cost prohibitive

Suppose I naively assumed it would be in the way of the new bridge? Maybe not? I can't remember what the last drawings indicated.

It can’t be in the way, they’re keeping it open during construction.

The approaches are a different story

[GRID]

God forbid we have two for non cars.

Worth looking at ongoing costs. Could be a draw like Grid had mentioned wanting over and over.

Yes. Most cities have multiple river crossings for peds. Some right next to each others. It makes no sense to destroy the old bridge when it can be used for peds and cyclists. Even with everything that KC is doing (adding pedestrian access to new bridge etc), KC will still be WAY behind when it comes to urban recreation. Make the old broadway bridge part of a bigger project to truly open up the rivers and riverfront parks to recreation.

Spend just one weekend in Richmond, VA and you will come back to KC wanting this bad. Actually, I could probably name 30 cities that people should visit for urban rec, but Richmond has really done some cool stuff and it's probably one of the biggest reasons to live in or visit the city.

[KCPowercat]

Be interesting to see what the cost would be. I'm sure the state will just hand over the asset but initial and ongoing maintenance could be prohibative for the city alone but maybe some grants out there to help?

[GRID]

Be interesting to see what the cost would be. I'm sure the state will just hand over the asset but initial and ongoing maintenance could be prohibative for the city alone but maybe some grants out there to help?

It's basic infrastructure. Nearly every city, small to huge has a more comprehensive and robust recreational infrastructure system than KC does. How is every other city able to make this a part of their budgets? This includes re-purposing old bridges. It's far more common to do that than to remove a bridge like the Broadway Bridge now. You just need people at city hall with a vision.

[KCPowercat]

Thanks. We're all aware we're failing here and we've all seen other cities. That doesn't just make it automatic that we can afford to keep the Buck bridge for peds. Sorry.

It doesn't help when there isn't that big of a demand to GO to the other side of the river via foot/bike at this location. It will take a lot of vision and work with other cities to bring that all together.