Eastbound Red Bridge Road to remain closed through June for gas main upgrades

By Tony Madden

Eastbound Red Bridge Road between Blue River Road and Myrtle Avenue will remain closed through June, according to Spire communications lead John Mink. 

The stretch of Red Bridge Road, a major south Kansas City thoroughfare, closed in March as crews began replacing old steel natural gas mains with updated plastic ones. Plastic mains are preferred over older steel models for their flexibility, longevity and fewer maintenance costs, Mink added.

“It’s probably an inconvenience for area residents, but we certainly would appreciate their patience as we work to complete that project as quickly and as safely as possible,” Mink told the Telegraph.

Mink also said it’s fairly unusual to have to close an entire lane of traffic for a project like this, but the area’s special geography and configuration of utilities require a closure.

The detour for eastbound traffic on Red Bridge Road takes drivers south on Blue River Road, then east on Martha Truman Road, then back north on Grandview Road. The detour adds approximately 4 miles to the route.

Mink said Spire did not hold a community engagement session to inform the community of the closures. The company instead sent letters to customers along the route prior to the project, he said.