Mt. Vernon Street west of Kansas Expressway in the Westside neighborhood closed in June and will remain closed through mid-October for construction to replace the bridge over Jordan Creek. A posted detour guides traffic around the work zone using Walnut Street, Scenic Avenue and Grand Street.
“By July, the existing bridge will be removed and the new box culverts will start being installed. Excavation to widen the creek will also be taking place,” said Public Works Engineer Andrew Flippin.
The project will remove and replace the structurally deficient bridge, add sidewalks compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act and connect the existing multi-use trail to Mt. Vernon Street. The project will also provide bank stabilization and increased flow capacity to Jordan Creek.
“Like the recent Grand Street Bridge Replacement Project, the Mt. Vernon Street Bridge project is multi-faceted,” Flippin explained. “It will not only improve the function of the bridge, but it will also add pedestrian safety and accessibility features and help increase stormwater capacity along the creek.”
Construction and utility relocations for the project began in April and is expected to be complete in late summer or early fall.
The cost of the project is approximately $1.5 million, partially funded through the federal On-System Bridge Program with the remaining portion funded through reimbursement funds from the Missouri Department of Transportation received from a previous project. The contractor for the project is Hartman & Company, Inc.