90 day closure of major bridge aims to improve safety

A major bridge in Kansas will be closed for the next three months as crews work to overhaul the interchange and majorly improve traffic safety in the area. 

The 119th Street Bridge over Interstate 35 in Olathe, Kansas was closed on Tuesday, June 1st and is expected to remain closed for at least the next 90 days – meaning reopening is expected sometime in September. The closure will restrict left turn access on and off the interstate, as well as the traffic crossing the interstate. 

The overhaul is part of the ongoing construction on the I 35 interchange, which is aimed at improving overall safety and efficiency of the interchange – an area with 11x the national rate of crashes as compared to similar bridges. 

Demolition of the current bridge will occur during nights and weekends from June 4th through 6th. This demolition will reduce I 35 to one lane in each direction for the duration of the demolition process. 

The entire interchange project has a tentative completion date set for the end of 2021.