High Cost Solution 1: Rebuild the Interchange (Rank this option now)

The Southwest Trafficway/Broadway interchange was built when traffic was moving from southern parts of Kansas City to downtown in the morning and back home at night.  Click the image to review solution details.

• In order to improve access into the Crown Center and Crossroads areas, this solution proposes a complete rebuildingof the Southwest Trafficway and Broadway interchange from 26th to 27th Streets.
• The southbound lanes of I-35 would be moved closer to the northbound lanes to provide extra right-of-way for rebuilding ramps and connections to the local system. 
• The existing left exits to Southwest Trafficway and Broadway would be removed. 
• In place of these ramps, a new right exit would be constructed, and Summit Street would be straightened and moved slightly to the west. 
• A new ramp to southbound Broadway would exit from the left side of the new auxiliary lanes. 
• Travelers could exit I-35 northbound at 26th Street to avoid the lane change at the West Pennway exit.   
• A new entrance ramp would be added from 27th Street to I-35 south. 
• The Southwest Trafficway/Broadway entrance ramps would essentially stay the same. 

 

More detailed design is required to determine if there are any property impacts.  However, initial indications are that the improvements are wholly within existing right-of-way, although there may be some construction easements required.

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High Cost Solution 2: New I-670 Ramp (Rank this option now)

On the west side of the loop, the I-670 interchange with I-35 does not provide full access to both interstates.  Travelers headed southbound on I-35 must take I-70 eastbound to I-670 westbound because there is no direct connection between I-35 south and I-670 west.  Likewise travelers from the West can only access I-35 via I-670 on the south side of the loop and I-70 on the east side of the loop.  The missing ramps and the lack of directional signing  north of the river leads many travelers into the neighborhoods of the Westside as they try to find a way into the West Bottoms or a way to turn around and get back on the interstate. Click image to review solution details.

This solution would look for options to add directional ramps for I-35 and I-670 so that the interchange is fully directional.  This option needs a significant amount of study because it affects the operation of the entire loop.  In order to study alternate alignments in the appropriate detail this solution will be included in the future I-70 Second Tier EIS Studies. 

More detailed design work is necessary to identify alternatives in order to determine the right-of-way impacts.  The assumption is that there will be right-of-way impacts. 

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