April 4, 2011
Northeast News
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Clarkson Construction Company crews began construction today on the $8.1 million I-435 and Front Street diverging diamond interchange (DDI) project.

The DDI project will modify the current diamond interchange into a diverging diamond, which will shift Front Street traffic beneath the I-435 bridges to the left side. The design, adapted from a similar intersection in Versailles, France, moves traffic more quickly than conventional interchanges, particularly where there is a high volume of left turns.

This revolutionary design is one of only a few planned for the Kansas City Metro. Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT) built the first diverging diamond interchange in North America in Springfield.

Construction at I-435 and Front Street was initially planned to begin in 2008 but was postponed until the new Christopher S. Bond Bridge over the Missouri River was nearly complete. MoDOT has now opened the Bond Bridge and associated interchanges, which allows MoDOT to begin this interchange project.

The DDI and Bond Bridge projects impact businesses in the Northeast Industrial District, one of Kansas City’s largest employment centers. Rush hour traffic congestion is a significant issue in the area and high truck volumes add to the problem.

Some lane restrictions will be in place through late fall on Front Street between Universal on the west side, to the railroad overpass on the east side of I-435.

A camera has been installed along Front Street east of Corrington to give the public a snapshot of construction progress every few minutes. Photos can be viewed at www.modot.mo.gov/kansascity.