Flood protection one step closer for Swope Park Industrial Area

Flood Protection One Step Closer for Swope Park Industrial Area

By John Sharp

Businesses in the flood-prone Swope Park Industrial Area around 75th Ter., east of Cleveland are getting much closer to finally having adequate flood protection.

On June 11, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers released its work plan for the 2018 federal fiscal year ending September 30 which included nearly $14.5 million for the flood control project that qualifies for a 65 percent federal/35 percent local funding split.  The local match will be financed by city flood control bonds approved by voters in April 2017.

The Corps plans to bid the project before October, and the city expects construction to start in 2019.  It will include building a flood protection wall around the area and an embankment for a flyover bridge over adjoining railroad tracks which will be constructed later as a separate project.

The U.S. Congress authorized a little more than $21 million for the flood wall and bridge last December in the Water Infrastructure Improvements for the Nation Act.

This represents the second major flood control project in south Kansas City recently funded by the Corps and the city.  On March 2, federal and city officials broke ground on the earthen levee on the north side of the Blue River that completes the flood control system designed to protect the Dodson Industrial District around 85th St. from U.S. 71 Highway west to Prospect.  That work is expected to be completed in 2020.