Kansas City I-670 Shutdown Starts 'Downtown Renaissance' FAIL

Let's start with two bits of local history . . .

First, a distant recollection that still irks many local drivers . . . 

On May 20, 1997, the Irish rock band U2 triggered widespread gridlock and outrage in Kansas City, Missouri after securing permits to shut down major downtown highways to film a music video.

The music video for "Last Night on Earth" featured an apocalyptic theme, military tanks on local bridges, and a notable cameo by famed author William S. Burroughs.

U2 paid for traffic control and obtained permission from City Hall to close down Interstate 670, Interstate 35, and several ramps leading onto Interstate 70 from roughly 9:00 AM to 2:00 PM. They also blocked off central local roads, including Truman Road and Broadway. Because city officials only announced the closures late Monday afternoon, morning commuters had virtually no warning, leaving over 100,000 daily drivers trapped in massive traffic jams. 

The parallels to the 670 shut down and the upcoming I-70 blockade should be obvious.  

And then we ask . . .

DOES EVERYBODY REMEMBER WHEN COVID LOCKDOWNS TAUGHT AMERICANS TO GIVE UP ON PUBLIC SPACES?!?

Consider . . . 

Since the "pandemic-era" commercial real estate STILL struggles with vacancy because nobody wants to go back to the office. 

Restaurant staffing still hasn't been fixed. 

And, generally, Americans seem dedicated to living by way of apps that help us to avoid most human contact. 

Accordingly . . . 

LUMINARY PARK SKEPTICS ARGUE THAT TWO YEARS OF DOWNTOWN TRAFFIC CHAOS MIGHT CONVINCE LOCALS TO STAY FAR, FAR AWAY FROM THE LOOP!!!

The counterpoint . . . 

Of course there are assurances from city hall but this is the literally the same group of people who watched one restaurant & small biz after the next FAIL during streetcar construction.  

More than anything . . . It's hard not to see all of this as a desperate gambit. 

The P&L District didn't save downtown, the T-mobile center b-list stage impact is nominal, a convention hotel didn't do the trick, the streetcar is a fun toy but doesn't really provide transit . . . And now the new Royals stadium looks like a private park for middle-class lawyers which leaves us with one question . . .

IS KANSAS CITY SO DESPERATE THAT THEY'RE WILLING TO BACK UP TRAFFIC FOR MILES JUST FOR MORE PARK SPACE?!?

Construction starts very soon so the answer might be obvious . . . For now, here's a peek art the scheme:  

"According to the city and project websites, Interstate 670 is scheduled to close in early December 2026 for phase one of the park's build. The closure is expected to last through September 2028. 

"Intermittent closures of city streets will continue through the construction's expected completion in the spring of 2029.

"Phase one construction will build roughly half of the tunnel infrastructure, or the foundation that will hold up the park, along I-670. It will also complete the first block of the park from Wyandotte Street to Baltimore Avenue near the convention center.

"The park website says that businesses in the area will remain open and accessible by marked detours.

"The park, formerly known as the South Loop Project, will create an urban park over I-670 in downtown Kansas City, linking communities and creating a public green space. This space will include play spaces, entertainment amenities and more." 

Read more via www.TonysKansasCity.com link . . .

Fox4: New project will close I-670 in downtown Kansas City until at least September 2028

KCTV5: I-670 closure announced as construction begins on Roy Blunt Luminary Park

KMBC: I-670 closing for nearly 2 years for Roy Blunt Luminary Park construction

Developing . . .