Volume 44 - Issue 17 - April 24, 2025
State of Kansas
Department of Transportation
Notice of Intent to Conduct Environmental Assessment
Public notice is hereby given that the Kansas Department of Transportation (KDOT), in cooperation with the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), will prepare an Environmental Assessment (EA) for a proposal to replace three aging bridge structures; Bridge 105-290, Bridge 105-027, and Bridge 105-289, that make up the Central Avenue Bridge over Interstate 70 (I-70) and the Union Pacific Railroad (UPRR) in eastern Kansas City, Kansas, within Wyandotte County.
The project study area spans the Kansas River and is bound by Northrup and Ohio Avenues to the north, Ewing Street to the east, the Union Pacific Railroad Bridge near I-670 to the south, and S. 7th Street to the west, connecting with N. 6th Street Trafficway. The Central Avenue/I-70 interchange is included in this study area, along with the on- and off-ramps for I-670 and S. 3rd Street.
Within the EA, FHWA, and KDOT will evaluate a “No Action” alternative as well as modernization alternatives on current alignment and offset alignments for the Central Avenue Bridge over I-70/UPRR study area as the proposed action. Roadway and interchange configurations will be evaluated throughout the corridor. Alternatives for the Central Avenue River Bridge over the Kansas River are not included but the area surrounding it within the study area will be evaluated for potential impacts, and no action related to the Central Avenue Bridge over I-70/UPRR will preclude future decisions for the Central Avenue River Bridge.
The FHWA and KDOT plan to prepare an EA for the project. The EA will analyze the potential social, economic, and environmental impacts resulting from the proposed project. The following issues will be specifically analyzed as part of the EA: traffic noise, impacts to the aquatic ecosystem, effects to cultural resources; effects to threatened and endangered species; impacts to floodplain and levee; effects on the transportation system; potential for hazardous materials impacts; community impacts, and socioeconomics. This includes direct, indirect, and cumulative impacts. Other Federal approvals or permits that may be required; coordination with Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to address potential airspace considerations to Charles B. Wheeler Downtown Airport, a Section 404 and/or Section 408 Permit from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), a floodplain development permit from the City of Kansas City, and Wyandotte County as well as water resource and floodplain permits from the Kansas Division of Water Resources.
Coordination meetings will be held as needed with affected/concerned local, state, tribal, and federal governmental entities. Public meetings will be held to gather input and share findings on the EA. The EA will be made available for public and agency review and comment prior to the final public meeting.
To ensure that the full range of issues related to the proposed action are addressed and all significant issues defined, comments and suggestions are invited from all interested parties. Comments or questions concerning the proposed action and the EA should be directed to FHWA or KDOT at the addresses provided below.
For further information, contact:
Federal Highway Administration, Kansas Division
Richard Backlund, Division Administrator
6111 SW 29th St., Suite 100,
Topeka, KS 66614-4271
785-273-2600
hdaks@dot.gov
Kansas Department of Transportation
Steven Cross, P.E., Road Design Leader/Project Manager
Dwight D. Eisenhower State Office Building
700 SW Harrison St.,
Topeka, KS 66603-3745
785-221-6441
Steven.Cross@ks.gov
Calvin Reed
Secretary
Department of Transportation
Doc. No. 053053
