Northeast News
April 1, 2011
The left lane of northbound Interstate 29/35 will be temporarily closed at US 24 Highway to the Paseo Boulevard ramp from 8:30 a.m. until 3:30 p.m. on Monday, April 4, and Tuesday, April 5, so crews can remove graffiti.

“Ten dollars worth of spray paint and bad judgment created about $10,000 worth of damage and an inconvenience to motorists,” said kcICON Project Director Brian Kidwell.  “What’s also unfortunate is that the taggers defaced areas of the project with aesthetic enhancements chosen by the community.”

A clear, anti-graffiti coating formulated to withstand multiple taggings and make future clean-up faster and more cost-effective will be tested in select areas in the project corridor.

“According to the manufacturer, this new coating is supposed to protect our concrete surfaces while still allowing for the easy removal of graffiti,” Kidwell said.  “If it proves to work well, MoDOT could expand its use in other areas where graffiti vandalism is a chronic problem.”

Graffiti vandalism along northbound Interstate 29/35 at Paseo Boulevard has created a public eyesore for motorists traveling the new Bond Bridge corridor rebuilt to improve traffic flow and serve as a dramatic gateway to and from downtown Kansas City and North Kansas City.

Although major construction is complete, segments of the kcICON Project are still under construction.  The contractor, Paseo Corridor Constructors, will remove and repair the graffiti damage at their own expense.