Proposed park/deck over I-670

[nedarb25]

Actually, this is an excellent proposal and I wish more people would take this seriously. Kansas City's downtown is slashed into about 8 different neighbourhoods, creating much isolation in economic and commercial development. This proposed deck would cover an already below ground level interstate and eliminate noise pollution, and add about four blocks for development or park areas. Right now, without the deck, it is not an appealing walk from the Crossroads to the Loop or vice versa. Nobody really can just explore the city in KC because everything is so separated, meaning that you will go downtown for a purpose and never stumble on to anything else. This deck wouldn't help the P&L so much as it would the less advertised local businesses in the Crossroads.
Also, as far as cost and infrastructure goes. The bridges crossing that part of the interstate will need to be replaces within the next five years. This deck would go in instead of the bridges (which will need to be replaced in the next 20 years again). It may cost more than just replacing bridges, but in the long run, it will save our city money and attract many more people downtown, not to mention just making the city more beautiful. We have to stop worrying about problems that will always exist and start thinking about permanently improving KC for years to come.

[kcmo]

It's an ok project, but would it really do much for downtown? The freeway canyon is only like 100's across, you barely notice it's there even when walking across it. There are so many bridges that the parks they put between them would be too small to be used for much besides collecting trash and homeless people.

Also, Downtown KCMO still has acres and acres of underdeveloped land, some right in the heart of the financial center of the city. Does KC really need to be creating more "developable" land when it can't develop what it has now?

200-300 million is enough to build a starter light rail line between the river market and midtown or plaza. That will actually help create dense development on some of those parking lots downtown, not sure the freeway deck will. That money could also go a long way rebuilding streets, sidewalks and bridges in areas outside the Power and Light district and Library District (the only areas they have been replaced). So much of KCMO’s downtown infrastructure is still in terrible shape compared to other big city downtowns.

But hey, if KC is getting free federal money that they have to use for only this, then I guess they have little choice. It's better than saying no and some other city getting it.

[OneKC]

I think 670 does create a bit of a mental divide, but I think it gets totally overblown. The walk across is not nearly as daunting as people make it out to be.

Don't get me wrong - if this was free, or really cheap, I'd love to see it done. Just doesn't seem worth it though if we have to pony up millions when we have so many other priorities and so much vacant land.