Johanna Pounds
Editorial Assistant
Northeast News

KANSAS CITY – Congressman Emmanuel Cleaver II announced today the Buck O’Neil bridge has received a $25 million grant for rebuilding and adding improvements.

The Better Utilizing Investments to Leverage Development (BUILD) grant will include creating a wider bridge span, separated facilities for pedestrians bicyclists, connector ramps including a direct connection between US 169 and Interstate 35, and an approaching roadway.

“I’m glad we could all work together to make this happen. The bridge is an example of what we can accomplish when we focus on the betterment of our communities,” said Congressman Cleaver.

The Buck O’Neill bridge has an average of 45,000 cars drive over it daily. The bridge first opened in 1956 as the Broadway Bridge. It was renamed in 2016 after the Kansas City baseball player, John “Buck” O’Neil.

For the last several years, Congressman Cleaver worked with other members at the Missouri Congressional Delegation, MODOT, and the city to find a solution that would allow for replacement of the bridge, rather than repairs only.

Last year, Congressman Cleaver wrote to the Secretary of Transportation to support a TIGER grant application that would allow funding to replace the bridge.

“This is great news for a bridge that is in desperate need of replacement. This will ease the concern of drivers who use the bridge daily and open doors for new economic opportunities in my district,” said Congressman Cleaver.

It does not say when we should expect the improvements to start.