KCBike.Info » Bridges

Chouteau Bridge paths and bike lanes opening on Friday

Eric — Thu, 04 Nov 2010 13:00:57 +0000

More Chouteau Bridge photos

Just barely a month after the Heart of America bridge, our second bike/ped crossing of the Missouri River officially opens Friday afternoon! The Chouteau Bridge has been retrofit with two barrier-separated paths and on-street bike lanes. The official ribbon-cutting is 2:00 p.m. on the south side.

Chouteau Bridge sneak peak

Eric — Sat, 23 Oct 2010 23:17:33 +0000

The Chouteau Bridge bike/ped retrofit is nearing completion, with an official ribbon cutting scheduled for 2:00 p.m. on November 5th. Here’s a sneak peak of the two trails being built on either side of the bridge, along with some amazing Missouri River views you can’t get through the window of a speeding car.

South approach to the path on the east side of the bridge.

Looking south on the path on the west side of the bridge.

Looking east from the bridge.

Looking west towards Downtown

Downtown Skyline

Note: The eastern side path is currently useable, but be cautious of the loose surface and numerous open drain grates.

Weekend events

Eric — Thu, 30 Sep 2010 16:25:51 +0000

Heart of America Bridge bike/ped path – Friday
Free bagels on the bridge 7:00-8:30 a.m. Ribbon cutting at 2:00 p.m., followed by first ride across the bridge and after party until 7:00pm at The Caddy Shack. Details.

Traffic Skills 101 Class – Saturday
Central Library, details and registration.

Tour de BBQ – Saturday
Power & Light District. Benefit ride for Livestrong Foundation, followed by Smashmouth concert in the KC Live block. Details and registration.

International Take a Kid Mountain Biking Day – Saturday
10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at Landahl Park in Blue Springs, or your own local singletrack. Details.

Boss Cross Cyclocross – Saturday and Sunday
E.H. Young Riverfront Park in Riverside, MO. Details.

Bagels on the bridge

Eric — Thu, 30 Sep 2010 13:20:19 +0000

In celebration of tomorrow’s opening of the Heart of America bike/ped path, the City’s BikeKC program will be giving away bagels on the bridge Friday morning 7:00-8:30 a.m. Everyone walking or bicycling across the bridge can get a free bagel at the south ramp near 3rd and Holmes.

Get all the details on the ribbon cutting, first group ride, and after party from MoBikeFed.

Town of Kansas Bridge stairs are now bike-friendly

Eric — Sun, 26 Sep 2010 19:05:58 +0000

Town of Kansas Bridge Bike Stair Channel

The KC Port Authority recently finished retrofitting the Town of Kansas Bridge staircase with a bike channel or “u-rail” that makes it much easier to roll a bike up and down the stairs. These bike stair channels are quite common in Europe, and as far as we know this bridge is the first place they have been used in KC.

The Town of Kansas was the city’s original settlement on the south bank of the Missouri River, and the bridge is key piece of the Riverfront Heritage trail that links the River Market neighborhood on top of the bluffs with Berkley Riverfront Park. The Riverfront West area at the foot of the bridge features a new wetlands restoration area and future plans include an archaeological park showcasing remnants of the original Town of Kansas settlement

Town of Kansas Bridge by Carl Heydman

Heart of America Bridge opening!

Eric — Fri, 24 Sep 2010 11:46:52 +0000

Heart of America Bridge *almost* finished

OK folks, the day many thought would never come is almost upon us and Kansas City will soon have a dedicate bike/ped path across the Missouri River. The Heart of America Bridge project is officially opening on Friday, October 1st! The official ribbon cutting ceremony will be at 2:00 p.m. The Missouri Bicycle & Pedestrian Federation will lead the first ride and walk over the bridge and then host a big after party until 7:00 p.m. or so.

MoBikeFed has all the opening day details.

Even if you can’t go to the official opening, be sure to come to the after party at The Caddy Shack at 3rd and Holmes, just a block from the bridge. Many of you spent a lot of time writing letters, signing petitions, testifying at meetings, etc. and this is your time to celebrate the fruits of those labors.

Road construction impacts 87th Street and HOA Bridge

Eric — Sat, 10 Jul 2010 01:47:22 +0000

Two road construction projects that will impact cyclists who use the Heart of America Bridge Downtown or 87th Street in South KC.

East 87th Street
The bad news is that this road is closing Monday on either side of I-435, between Hillcrest Rd. and Drury Ave., and won’t reopen until August 2nd. The good news is that 87th Street’s bike lanes will be extended all the way to I-435 when construction is finished. Here’s a map of suggested detour options.

Heart of America Bridge
Construction is in full force on the bridge rehab and bike/ped path. Most work is happening at night. The road has been narrowed and the shoulder is gone, so use extreme caution if you choose to ride this bridge. The barrier you see there now is for construction, it’s not the final product. I know some people have been able to get behind the barrier, but this won’t always be possible while construction is ongoing. Consider detouring east to the Chouteau Bridge or catching the bus at either end of the HOA bridge.

Heart of America Bridge construction in progress

Eric — Fri, 02 Jul 2010 15:57:56 +0000

Progress as promised on the city’s first barrier-protected bike/ped crossing over the Missouri River…

HOA ground-breaking ride

Eric — Mon, 29 Mar 2010 19:30:23 +0000

KCBike.Info is organizing a group ride to Wednesday’s ground-breaking ceremony for the Heart of America Bridge bike/ped project. It will be five miles at an easy pace, mostly on the planned BikeKC routes. We’ll leave from Westport Road & Pennsylvania Avenue at 9:00 a.m. and stop at City Hall at 9:30 to pickup Downtown residents/workers.

Please RSVP on Facebook.

HOA Bridge animation and details

Eric — Mon, 29 Mar 2010 15:34:48 +0000

MoDOT’s YouTube channel has an animation of the new bike/ped lane planned for the Heart of America Bridge. Don’t forget the ground-breaking ceremony at 10:00 a.m. on Wednesday.

The details of the retrofit include…

An 8-10 foot barrier-separated path from 3rd Street in KCMO to 10th Avenue in NKC.
Opening in barrier at 3rd Street, so that cyclists northbound from the Downtown Loop can get behind the barrier.
Wide outside lanes and Share the Road Signage on the rest of the bridge.
Local way finding signage to direct bicyclists and pedestrians between the Downtown Loop and 3rd Street bridge access.

View Heart of America Bridge Bike/Ped Path in a larger map