Paseo Bridge

Paseo Bridge

Bridge from upriver side on the ASB Bridge in February 2008. Worlds of Fun is in the background.
Coordinates 39°07′22″N 94°33′57″W / 39.12278°N 94.56583°WCoordinates: 39°07′22″N 94°33′57″W / 39.12278°N 94.56583°W
Carries 4 lanes of I-29 / I-35 / US 71
Crosses Missouri River
Locale Kansas City, Missouri
Official name Paseo Bridge
Maintained by MoDOT
ID number 6674
Characteristics
Design Suspension
Longest span 616.0 feet
History
Opened 1954[1]
Closed 2010
View from Front Street showing beginning construction for the caisson of the replacemement bridge in July 2008.
The bridge and its downstream replacement in December 2009

The Paseo Bridge was a suspension bridge over the Missouri River in Kansas City, Missouri. Before being replaced by the Christopher S. Bond Bridge, it carried Interstates 29 and 35 and U.S. Route 71 over the river.

Background and History

It was built in 1954[2] and was rehabilitated in 1984 and 2005. According to the Missouri Department of Transportation, the bridge handled 95,000 vehicles a day before its retirement,[3] making it the most used bridge in Kansas City. The Paseo Bridge also served as the main connection between Kansas City and the Northland (the area of Kansas City north of the Missouri River). At the time it was built, it was the longest self connected suspension bridge ever constructed worldwide.

MoDOT replaced the bridge in 2010 with the Christopher S. Bond Bridge. Construction of the new cable-stayed bridge began in April 2008 and was completed several months ahead of schedule. The Paseo Bridge was open to traffic during the construction, gradually shifting the flow onto the new Bond Bridge until all lanes of the new bridge were open. Vehicle traffic across the Paseo Bridge ceased on November 19, 2010, and demolition work on the bridge began shortly thereafter.[4]

See also

References

  1. ↑ National Bridge Inventory database, structure no. 6674
  2. ↑ Baughn, James. "Paseo Bridge". Historic Bridges of the U.S. Retrieved 19 November 2010.
  3. ↑ "Paseo Bridge will close for $20.9M rehab". Kansas City Business Journal. 14 February 2005. Retrieved 19 November 2010.
  4. ↑ Cronkleton, Robert (19 November 2010). "Paseo Bridge goes into retirement Friday". The Kansas City Star. Retrieved 19 November 2010.