Where: Eastern Jackson County
What: Road widening and straightening
Who: KCMO, Lee’s Summit, Jackson County, MARC

Background:
Planning is underway for the expansion of Lee’s Summit Road along the border between KCMO and Lee’s Summit, between 40 Hwy and Colbern Road. This is a key north/south arterial in an area of rapid growth for both cities. The current two lane road is hilly, twisting, narrow, and has poor sight lines.

The project:
Early indications point towards a phased project, initially focusing on straightening and leveling. Expansion to three or four lanes would occur incrementally as development dictates and funding allows.

Bicycle Considerations:
Lee’s Summit Road is one of the few opportunities for a good north/south bike route in this area. It is also on KCMO’s Major Street Plan as a planned bike route. It is therefore vital that any road expansion include on-street bicycle facilities. This is the type of project that often gets sidewalk or recreational trail alongside the road. People interested in on-road accommodations should ask for a bike lane, a shoulder, or a wide outside lane.

Related Information:

Project Info on the KCMO city web site

June 2007 Open House with Conceptual Ideas

• $57 million project over 15-20 years
• Initial design is three lane north of Gregory and four lane south of Gregory
• KC portion will include wide curb lane for bicycles
• Entire road will have sidewalk on one side and multi-use trail on the other
• KC portion will be “secondary arterial” with 40 m.p.h. speed limit and 7% maximum grade
• Lee’s Summit portion will be “minor arterial” with 50 m.p.h. speed limit
• Current actual speeds are 45-50+ m.p.h.
• Traffic predictions for 2030 are 40,000 between US 40 and Phelps, 7,000 between Lakewood and Woods Chapel Road, and 30,000 between the KC/LS border and Colbern Road

June 2007 Maps (all PDF files)
These maps show both the city-proposed roadway and some suggested modifications from local cyclists Paul Toigo.

• US 40 Hwy to Phelps Road
• Phelps to Harding
• Lakewood to Woods Chapel
• Woods Chapel to Strother
• 85th to Douglas
• Douglas to I-470

Key to Paul Toigo’s suggestions:
Red: Delete multi-use path along arterial or replace with a sidewalk.
Orange: Added multi-use path (non-arterial)
Yellow: Delete multi-use path along arterial
Green: Use abandoned roadway for multi-use path.
Blue: Add multi-use path along arteria