Last month the Kansas and Missouri departments of transportation came together to educate the public on the plan to replace the Centennial Bridge on Highway 92, which crossed the Missouri River and connects Platte County to Leavenworth, Kan.
In 2011, the Kansas Department of Transportation (KDOT) began a multi-phase study to determine the future of the existing bridge. After conducting traffic, engineering, environmental, community engagement and feasibility studies, KDOT determined the structure had exceeded its useful lifespan and that a new bridge was needed. The bridge serves as the only river crossing within a 38 mile area and carries about 15,000 vehicles per day.
A new, four-lane Centennial Bridge will be built just north of the existing bridge, with the old bridge remaining open throughout construction, according to KDOT officials. The old bridge will be demolished after completion of construction, which is tentatively scheduled for 2029.
The new bridge will not be a toll bridge, with the project funded by MoDOT and KDOT in partnership, as well as through funds from the Eisenhower Legacy Transportation Program, federal grants and municipal contributions.
The new bridge will be lifted, improving flood resilience and resolving navigation challenges on the Missouri River and will also provide pedestrian and bicycle lane accommodations.
In Leavenworth, the Fourth and Fifth street intersections will be reconfigured to shift traffic to the north, while in Missouri, most improvements to Hwy. 92 between Beverly and the bridge have already been completed by MoDOT.
Construction on the new bridge could begin as soon as 2027, with additional opportunities for public engagement during the engineering process, according to the project website, newcentennialbridge.org.