I-29/I-35 Environmental Impact Statement Review Begins Nov. 17
KANSAS CITY, MO – The I-29/I-35 Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) has been prepared and will be available for a 30-day public review and comment period beginning Friday, Nov. 17.
The FEIS evaluates the likely impacts of improvements to the I-29/I-35 corridor from Missouri Route 210 south over the Missouri River and to the northeast corner of the downtown loop. Impacts evaluated include possible changes to the natural environment, including air and noise, impacts to the man-made environment, including businesses, historic sites and homes, as well as impacts to surrounding neighborhoods and communities.
The FEIS details the need for improvements, including insufficient shoulders, through capacity, and outdated designs for merging and exiting. The recommended alternative calls for the construction of six through lanes in the corridor, including additional capacity across the Missouri River.
“We’ve worked very hard to be responsive to the input of the community, including introducing an approach that would build six through lanes now, but reserve the option for eight in the future. Our goal has been to create a safe and efficient interstate facility that meets the needs of the traveling public while minimizing impacts to businesses and residents that are near the corridor,” said Beth Wright, MoDOT District Engineer.
The final document includes MoDOT’s commitment to fund and begin construction of a bicycle and pedestrian crossing over the Missouri River on the Heart of America (Route 9) bridge in downtown Kansas City by 2012.
The FEIS was prepared under the direction of the Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT) and the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), with the cooperation of the Environmental Protection Agency, the US Army Corps of Engineers, the US Coast Guard and the Department of Housing and Urban Development.
The final document will be available for review from November 17, 2006 through December 18, 2006 at the following locations:
Gladstone, Mo.:
- City of Gladstone City Hall, 7010 Holmes
- Antioch Library, 6060 N. Chestnut
Kansas City, Mo.:
- North Oak Library, 8700 N. Oak Street Trafficway
- Central Library, 14 W. 10th Street
- Don Bosco Senior Center, 580 Campbell
- Kansas City Missouri City Hall
- 414 E. 12th Street, Action Center
- North-East Branch Library, 6000 Wilson Road
Liberty, Mo.:
- Liberty Library, 1000 Kent Street
North Kansas City, Mo.:
- North Kansas City City Hall, 2010 Howell
- North Kansas City Public Library, 2251 Howell
Jefferson City, Mo.:
- MoDOT Central Office, 105 West Capitol Avenue
Lee’s Summit, Mo.:
- MoDOT District 4 Office, 600 NE Colbern Road
On line at:
www.modot.org/kansascity/major_projects.
Comments on the document can be sent:
- Via mail to: I-29/I-35 Final EIS, 715 Kirk Drive, KCMO 64105
- Via e-mail to: i29i35EIS@hntb.com
“We’re excited to bring the environmental evaluation process to this point. Following the 30-day comment period and final Record of Decision, our next step is to formally begin our design-build process, which is scheduled to have improvements in the corridor completed by late 2011,” said Wright.
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CONTACTS
MoDOT: Lee Ann Kell, 816-622-6318 or Joel Blobaum,
816-622-6327
