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The Intercity Viaduct (officially the Lewis and Clark Viaduct since 1969) is an automobile and pedestrian crossing of the Kansas River in the United States. Designed by Waddell and Hedrick, this four lane, two level deck truss bridge opened to the public on January 29, 1907.[1] It rises above the West Bottoms, and several sets of railroad tracks. It was the first roadway bridge to connect Kansas City, Missouri, with Kansas City, Kansas, non-stop all the way across. It is about 1.5 miles (2.4 km) long and carries eastbound traffic for Interstate 70 (I-70)/U.S. Route 24 (US 24)/US 40/US 169, while its sister bridge, the Lewis and Clark Viaduct, built in 1962, carries westbound traffic.
Lewis and Clark Viaduct | |
|---|---|
 Intercity and original Lewis and Clark Viaducts.
Intercity Viaduct is left, since replaced Lewis and Clark Viaduct is right. | |
| Coordinates | 39°06′48″N 94°36′54″W / 39.1133°N 94.6149°W |
| Carries | 7 lanes of     I-70 / US 24 / US 40 / US 169 (3 westbound, 4 eastbound); bike/pedestrian path |
| Crosses | Kansas River |
| Locale | Kansas City, Kansas–Kansas City, Missouri |
| Official name | Lewis and Clark Viaduct |
| Maintained by | KDOT and MoDOT |
| Characteristics | |
| Design | Deck truss |
| Width | 52 ft (15.8 m) |
| Longest span | 3,777 ft (1,151.1 m) |
| Clearance above | 29 ft (8.8 m) |
| History | |
| Opened | 1907 (eastbound) 1930 (lower deck) 1962 (original westbound) 2021 (replacement westbound) |
| Statistics | |
| Daily traffic | 23,500 |
| Location | |
 | |
The eastbound lanes were built as the Intercity Viaduct, carrying both east and west lanes, but renamed the Lewis and Clark Viaduct on January 25, 1969, taking the name of its sister bridge that would now carry the westbound lanes, built in 1962 to the north.
History edit
Designed by the engineering firm Waddell and Hedrick in 1903, the viaduct followed a flood that same year that wiped out all but one of the 17 bridges that spanned the Kaw River.[2] Ground was broken to mark the building of the bridge in 1905.[2]
In 1907, the Bridge opened to two lanes of toll traffic, with streetcar tracks.
In 1908, only one year after opening, the Bridge survived a flood.
In 1911, the Bank abruptly foreclosed the bridge as the tolls did not cover the bridge's cost.
After 6 year of disuse, Kansas City, Kansas, and Kansas City, Missouri co purchased the viaduct in 1917. In 1918, a ribbon cutting ceremony held to open the bridge to free traffic under city control and ownership, the toll booths were then removed form the bridge.
In 1930, a new lower level was constructed with two lanes, one in each direction.
In 1936, the Streetcar rails, hangars, and tracks were removed, and the upper level had its capacity doubled, adding up to a total of six lanes.
In 1951, the bridge survived the 1951 Kansas City flood, the only bridge to remain open to traffic during the flood.
In 1962, The Lewis and Clark Viaduct was constructed to the north. It was of a taller height and could accommodates amore modern vehicle width's adequately.
In November 1962, the eastbound span was extensively renovated, as all of its old steel piers were tubed off, and it was coated with concrete. Around this time I-70 was routed over the eastbound bridge as well, and part of the viaduct was demolished to allow the construction of new on-ramps. It would form then onward carry eastbound traffic only.
In 1969, the eastbound Bridge was officially renamed the Lewis and Clark Viaduct after its newer sister bridge.
In 1984, the westbound bridge was rehabilitated.
In 1993, the Bridges survived the Great Kansas City flood of 1993.
In 2000, a projected to covert the outdated disused 1930 Lower level of the eastbound bridge into a pedestrian walkway was completed.
On January 29, 2007, the eastbound bridge turned 100 years old, and several people gathered from West Bottoms on the same day it opened on January 29, 1907, holding lights to the bridge in honor of its 100 years of service.[citation needed]
In 2018, the westbound side of bridge was demolished and reconstructed over the Kansas River, and was opened in 2021. Unlike the original westbound bridge, it has lighting, as well as a adequate shoulder missing form the 1962 structure. It was delayed due to the floods of 2019.[3] The Eastbound span has since been closed for demolition and reconstruction which will make the structure similar in design to the replacement westbound bridge, albeit with a pedestrian walkway.[4]
See also edit
References edit
- ^ "Answers". The Kansas City Star. 1907-12-20. p. 6B. Retrieved 2021-12-28.
- ^ a b "Intercity bridge spans two states". Kansas City Kansan. March 2, 1986. Archived from the original on August 13, 2007. Retrieved June 23, 2010 – via Kansas City Public Library.
- ^ "Westbound Lewis & Clark Viaduct Opens to Traffic in Kansas City | ACP". www.acppubs.com. Retrieved 2022-07-29.
- ^ "EB Lewis and Clark Viaduct Closure Begins October 23". The Downtown Shareholders. Retrieved 2022-07-29.