Work began summer of last year in the City of Lenexa, Kansas with construction on the 87th Street Parkway to improve safety and traffic flow at the Interstate 435 and 87th Street Parkway Interchange.
The $8.4 million project received more than $3 million in federal funds for construction.
These improvements include:
- Additional through lanes and turn lanes on 87th Street Parkway between Maurer Road and Renner Boulevard
- Additional lanes on the interstate ramps
- 10-foot-wide trails along both sides of 87th Street Parkway
- New storm sewer system
- New traffic signal at the 87th Street Parkway and northbound I-435 exit ramp
On Tuesday, August 23, the northbound exit ramp will close starting at 9 A.M. The ramps are expected to be closed for about 30 days, weather permitting. Marked detour routes are provided.
- Southbound I-435 entrance ramp detour: southbound Renner Boulevard to the I-435 entrance ramp near 95th Street.
- Northbound I-435 exit ramp detour: Northbound I-435 to westbound 95th Street to northbound Renner Boulevard to 87th Street Parkway.
87th Street Parkway just east of the entrance to Sar-Ko-Par Trails Park is now open. Contractors finished installing the new pre-cast pedestrian tunnel ahead of schedule.
The new tunnel will feature tall arched entrances on both sides and round-the-clock lighting. It will also have an emergency call box and security cameras. It’s set high enough above the nearby stream to avoid flooding.
Once complete, this north/south connection will help walkers and cyclists to safely access businesses and amenities on both sides of 87th Street Parkway.
Lenexa received a $1.1 million grant from the Kansas Department of Transportation (KDOT) to help fund this project. The tunnel is expected to open to travelers by fall.
The City of Lenexa worked with a consultant to evaluate the best ways to approach constructing a tunnel, the safest option for walkers and bikers to access both sides of the trail.
Their analysis found that the most practical, cost-effective method would be to dig a trench across 87th Street Parkway, install precast tunnel structures and fittings, reconstruct the road above, and pour a concrete walking surface through the tunnel.
The consultant estimated that tunneling under the road would cost about three times more than installing a precast tunnel.
A pedestrian bridge was ruled out early in the planning process due to the topography of the area around the trail. The existing trail ends at a set of stairs that rises about 20 feet to 87th Street Parkway. A bridge built over 87th Street would have to be at least 16 feet over the street to meet minimum clearance requirements. That means the bridge would have to be 36 feet above the existing trail.
The project is expected to be complete in late 2022.
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Source: Lenexa.com
