How does Liberty City Councilman Jeff Watt’s announcement at a recent county commission meeting impact Excelsior Springs residents?
Ask those who’ve used the bridge that crosses I-35 and connects Starbucks, Dick’s Sporting Goods, Culver’s and other locations on the Liberty side with Kansas City, North restaurants and stores that include Target, Walmart and Best Buy to the west.
Then add vehicles headed to Liberty Square for business at county offices and the courthouse to the mix and the words “traffic snarl” best describe the potential impact of Watt’s comments on Excelsior drivers.
Watt attended the March 14 meeting to request that the commission write a letter to the Missouri Department of Transportation supporting replacement of the I-35 Bridge and improving the congested Kansas Street corridor between Highway 291 and the bridge.
Watt said Liberty has applied for an $8 million Mid-America Regional Council Surface and Transportation Grant to fund the Kansas Street improvements.
“If we would win the grant this will allow fixes to Kansas Street allowing better flow,” he said in a follow-up email. “This includes dedicated turn lanes for all directions along the corridor and fixing the 291 and Kansas Street intersection. Currently, the intersection only allows movement from one direction of 291 at a time.”
To read more, see the Tuesday, March 22 issue of The Excelsior Springs Standard.