More Construction on the Way for Kansas City

Kansas City residents sick of road construction (like me) will be delighted to hear that the city has announced more construction and road closings into the fall. The ramp from Interstate 635 to Kansas 5 will now be closed late October.

Drivers will be provided with an alternate route southbound I-635 towards Parrallel Parkway and then be forced to turn around and head northbound I-635 to eastbound Kansas 5 (yes it as confusing as it sounds).

As a native of central Illinois, I can applaud Kansas City for taking a proactive stance on its roads to prevent the car-ruining potholes that plague the area I grew up in. However, there is a fine line between maintaining good roads and keeping a city under construction for a decade. Take my daily commute for example: I deal with construction on 69 South from the 135th exit until the highway merges with I-35 every day commuting to work, and face slow delays due to construction on any other highway I may take around Kansas City. Normally I wouldn't have a problem with this, except we have been dealing with this for five years.

Perhaps the funding for repaving our roads every single year could be better allocated, or perhaps construction crews simply are not working fast enough. Despite the reasons, I am one Kansas City resident sick of road construction. Although maybe I deal with it another five strait years I will get used to it.

Comments?

Kansas City Hit Hard by Flooding

Kansas City area homes and business continue to be damaged by on-going flooding. Up to four feet of water has been reported in some areas, as heavy overnight rains have pushed creeks and rivers out of their banks and into business and residential areas.

The National Weather Service has reported that areas near the state line between Kansas and Missouri have been hit the hardest. Leawood, Mission Hills, Prairie Village all were victims to the most significant flooding that came primarily from Indian Creek.

Many homes and businesses have experience power loss as well. The combined effects of the water damage and loss of power have caused some businesses to permanently close, while many residents have been forced to relocate.

Several major highways in Kansas and Missouri have had closings as well, which has caused traffic problems for other highways. While many of these issues are being resolved, the forecast for rain throughout the month of June could signal more problems in the future.