Notice2024-27482
Emergency Temporary Closure of Eastbound Traffic on the National Network for the Lewis and Clark Viaduct Bridge in Kansas City, Kansas and Kansas City, Missouri
Primary source
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Published
November 25, 2024
Issuing agencies
Transportation DepartmentFederal Highway Administration
Abstract
The Kansas Department of Transportation (KDOT) closed for repairs the eastbound portion of Interstate 70 (I-70) on the Lewis and Clark Viaduct Bridge over the Kansas River on September 5, 2024. Closure of the bridge and detour routes extend from Kansas City, Kansas, into Kansas City, Missouri. The FHWA is providing notice that KDOT is continuing the temporary closure of the Lewis and Clark Viaduct Bridge in the eastbound direction until the bridge can be repaired, which is estimated to be by the end of December 2024. The FHWA is requesting comments from the public on the alternate routes selected by KDOT and the Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT) due to the closure.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 89 Issue 227 (Monday, November 25, 2024)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 227 (Monday, November 25, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 92995-92996]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2024-27482]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Highway Administration
[Docket No. FHWA-2024-0067]
Emergency Temporary Closure of Eastbound Traffic on the National
Network for the Lewis and Clark Viaduct Bridge in Kansas City, Kansas
and Kansas City, Missouri
AGENCY: Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), U.S. Department of
Transportation (DOT).
ACTION: Notice; request for comments.
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SUMMARY: The Kansas Department of Transportation (KDOT) closed for
repairs the eastbound portion of Interstate 70 (I-70) on the Lewis and
Clark Viaduct Bridge over the Kansas River on September 5, 2024.
Closure of the bridge and detour routes extend from Kansas City,
Kansas, into Kansas City, Missouri.
The FHWA is providing notice that KDOT is continuing the temporary
closure of the Lewis and Clark Viaduct Bridge in the eastbound
direction until the bridge can be repaired, which is estimated to be by
the end of December 2024. The FHWA is requesting comments from the
public on the alternate routes selected by KDOT and the Missouri
Department of Transportation (MoDOT) due to the closure.
DATES: Comments must be received on or before December 26, 2024.
ADDRESSES: To ensure that you do not duplicate your docket submissions,
please submit them by only one of the following means:
<bullet> Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to <a href="http://www.regulations.gov">www.regulations.gov</a> and
follow the
[[Page 92996]]
online instructions for submitting comments.
<bullet> Mail: U.S. Department of Transportation, Docket
Operations, M-30, West Building Ground Floor, 1200 New Jersey Avenue
SE, Room W12-140, Washington, DC 20590.
<bullet> Hand Delivery or Courier: U.S. Department of
Transportation, Docket Operations, West Building Ground Floor, Room
W12-140, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, Washington, DC, between 9:00 a.m.
and 5:00 p.m. ET, except Federal holidays.
Instructions: You must include the agency name and docket number
[FHWA-2024-0067] at the beginning of your comments. All comments
received will be posted without change to <a href="http://www.regulations.gov">www.regulations.gov</a>,
including any personal information provided.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Michael Latuszek, Office of Freight
Management and Operations, FHWA Office of Operations, (573) 616-0415,
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#8fe2e6ece7eeeae3a1e3eefbfafcf5eae4cfebe0fba1e8e0f9"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="2e43474d464f4b4200424f5a5b5d544b456e4a415a00494158">[email protected]</span></a>; William Winne, Office of the Chief Counsel,
(202) 366-0791, <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#44332d28282d25296a332d2a2a2104202b306a232b32"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="a8dfc1c4c4c1c9c586dfc1c6c6cde8ccc7dc86cfc7de">[email protected]</span></a>, Federal Highway Administration,
1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, Washington, DC 20590; or Richard Backlund,
FHWA Kansas Division, (785) 273-2626, <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#a8fac1cbc0c9dacc86cac9cbc3c4ddc6cce8ccc7dc86cfc7de"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="481a212b20293a2c662a292b23243d262c082c273c662f273e">[email protected]</span></a>.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Electronic Access and Filing
This document and all comments received may be viewed online
through the Federal eRulemaking portal at <a href="http://www.regulations.gov">www.regulations.gov</a>. The
website is available 24 hours each day, 365 days each year. An
electronic copy of this document may also be downloaded by accessing
the Office of the Federal Register's website at <a href="http://www.federalregister.gov">www.federalregister.gov</a>
and the U.S. Government Publishing Office's website at <a href="http://www.govinfo.gov">www.govinfo.gov</a>.
Background
The KDOT closed a portion of I-70 in the eastbound direction on the
Lewis and Clark Viaduct Bridge over the Kansas River for repairs on
September 5, 2024. The FHWA is providing notice that KDOT is continuing
the temporary closure until the damaged bridge can be repaired. The
estimated time for completion of the repair is the end of calendar year
2024. The FHWA is requesting comments from the public on the alternate
routes selected by KDOT and MoDOT due to the closure.
The FHWA is responsible for enforcing the Federal regulations
applicable to the National Network (NN) of highways that can safely and
efficiently accommodate the large vehicles authorized by provisions of
the Surface Transportation Assistance Act of 1982, Public Law 97-424 as
amended, designated in accordance with title 23 of the Code of Federal
Regulations (CFR) Part 658 (Truck Size and Weight, Route Designations--
Length, Width and Weight Limitations) and listed in Appendix A to Part
658. Under 23 CFR 658.11 (Additions, deletions, exceptions, and
restrictions), FHWA may approve deletions of, or use restrictions on,
the Interstate system or other NN routes based upon specified
justification criteria in section 658.11(d)(2). The FHWA is authorized
to delete any route from the NN on an emergency basis, based on safety
considerations pursuant to Sec. 658.11(e), which also requires
publishing this Notice in the Federal Register for comment.
As part of a recent bridge inspection, KDOT inspectors identified
concerns with gusset plates on the eastbound portion of this I-70
bridge. Gusset plates are used to connect truss members of a bridge.
Gusset plates can be fastened to a permanent truss member by bolts,
rivets, or welding, or a combination of the three. Based on the
inspection findings, KDOT engineers determined that repairs were needed
and closed the eastbound portion of the bridge on September 5, 2024, to
vehicles and pedestrians until the repairs are completed.
The Lewis and Clark Viaduct is a series of bridges comprising an
interchange with I-70, Minnesota Avenue, Washington Boulevard, and the
Fairfax Trafficway in Kansas City, Kansas.
The recommended detours have evolved since the closure of the
eastbound I-70 Lewis and Clark Viaduct Bridge and traffic on I-70 is
being rerouted as follows:
All eastbound I-70 on-ramps in downtown Kansas City, Kansas, are
closed including Minnesota Avenue/4th Street, Washington Boulevard, and
the Fairfax Trafficway. Eastbound I-70 traffic is being rerouted to
eastbound I-670. The signed detour begins on eastbound I-70 after the
18th Street Expressway (US-69) and before the I-70/I-670 split. Drivers
continuing on eastbound I-70 after the I-670 split can access downtown
Kansas City, Kansas, at 7th Street, Pacific Avenue, Central Avenue, 5th
Street or James Street/3rd Street. Drivers exiting downtown Kansas
City, Kansas can access eastbound I-70 via the 18th Street corridor and
use the I-670 detour; directly access I-670 via the Central Avenue
connection; or cross the Kansas River at James Street to access Kansas
City, Missouri.
The I-70 westbound offramp at Central Avenue is also closed. The
decision to close this access point was based on discussions between
KDOT and the Unified Government of Wyandotte County and Kansas City,
Kansas.
Several area Kansas River crossings are currently closed including
Central Avenue (local), Kansas Avenue/Avenida Cesar E. Chavez (local),
K-5 (KDOT, southbound lanes closed) over the Union Pacific Railroad,
and the Buck O'Neil Bridge (US-169, MoDOT).
The closure of eastbound I-70 reduces access to the Fairfax
Industrial District, however, there are several detour routes that
provide alternative ingress/egress options for the area, including the
Fairfax Bridge (US-69), which allows freight traffic to access several
interstate highway corridors. The Fairfax Trafficway provides access to
westbound I-70 and eastbound I-670 via Central Avenue and Kansas City,
Missouri, by way of James Street.
Detour messages are being provided on overhead dynamic message
boards; portable message boards have also been strategically deployed
throughout the area. The status of road closures and detours has been
further disseminated via traveler information systems (i.e. KanDrive,
KC Scout).
The KDOT and MoDOT are utilizing social media platforms such as
Facebook (@NEKansasKDOT) and X (@KansasCityKDOT), along with periodic
media releases to keep the public informed in real-time.
Authority: 23 U.S.C. 127 and 315; 49 U.S.C. 31111, 31112, and
31114; 23 CFR part 658.
Kristin R. White,
Acting Administrator, Federal Highway Administration.
[FR Doc. 2024-27482 Filed 11-22-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-22-P
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