Claire RobertsonVoters in Independence, Missouri, approved a $55 million general obligation bond for critical improvements to the city’s aging transportation infrastructure.
The IndeGO Bond allocates $30 million for street resurfacing, $15 million for bridge repairs and $10 million for sidewalk improvements.
Street improvement projects will resurface and widen key corridors to improve traffic flow. City staff will determine the roads most in need of improvement.
The bridge fund will repair or replace 14 bridges, five of which are currently closed due to unsafe driving conditions. The following bridges will be replaced or repaired:
- Kentucky Ave. Bridge over Rock Creek
- Lexington Bridge
- Overton Bridge
- Valley View Bridge
- Lee’s Summit Bridge over Union-Pacific Railroad
- Main St. Bridge over Union-Pacific Railroad
- Noland Road Bridge over Kansas City Southern Railroad
- Kentucky Ave. Bridge over Mill Creek
- Lake City Bridge
- R.D. Mize Bridge over Trace Trail
- Wilson Ave. Bridge
- Southside Blvd. Bridge
- Heidelberger Bridge
The bond includes funds for culvert repairs and replacements throughout the city.
Sidewalk improvements will enhance safety around seven elementary schools. Schools identified as having the highest need include Blackburn, Cassell Park, Fairmount, Ott and Mill Creek in the Independence School District, and Cler-Mont and Elm Grove in the Fort Osage School District.
With the passage of the bond, the city will be able to double its annual spending on much-needed street overlays for the next five to seven years and fund infrastructure repairs that otherwise lacked dedicated funding.
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