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*For Immediate Release:    *     
January 22, 2026
          
*Contact:    *     
Grace Hoge
[email protected]

*Governor Kelly Announces $135M to Replace Central Avenue Bridges in Wyandotte County*

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TOPEKA* – Governor Laura Kelly, Unified Government Mayor Christal Watson, and Kansas Department of Transportation (KDOT) Secretary Calvin Reed today announced a project along Central Avenue in Wyandotte County that will replace bridges over I-70, Union Pacific Railroad, and the Kansas River.

“Today’s announcement reflects the power of collaboration, looking at the bigger picture and listening to communities,”* Governor Laura Kelly said. *“Through effective problem solving we’re able to address more needs with the same level of investment.”

The Unified Government of Wyandotte County and Kansas City, Kansas and KDOT both own bridges along the Central Avenue corridor that need replaced. The bridge that crosses the Kansas River is owned by the Unified Government and was closed in Spring 2021 due to safety and structural concerns. The KDOT-owned bridges over I-70 and Union Pacific Railroad remain open but are approaching the end of their service life.

“The Central Avenue Bridge over the Kansas River has a long history of supporting economic growth and freight movement in Kansas City,” *Mayor/CEO Christal Watson said.* “I, along with Unified Government Commissioners and staff, are thrilled that we’re going to restore connectivity with the construction of a new bridge.”

Both the Unified Government and KDOT had started studies to explore options for replacing their respective Central Avenue bridges. During public outreach efforts, KDOT heard clearly about the importance of access to the industrial area on the west side of the Kansas River as well as connections to the West Bottoms on the east side of the river. While looking at options to address the community’s access concerns, KDOT engineers identified a solution that could provide the desired access while also expanding the project to include replacing the Unified Government’s bridge over the Kansas River – all for the same cost.

“Including the replacement of the bridge over the Kansas River will allow KDOT to replace the bridges over I-70 and Union Pacific Railroad in a more cost-effective way, resulting in the project cost being the same as originally estimated,”* KDOT Secretary Calvin Reed said.* “This is a win-win for Kansas. We’re replacing more outdated bridges and being responsive to the community’s needs.”

The project is estimated to cost around $135 million and could be let to construction as early as late 2028.

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