Project Update 6/12/2026: 

There are currently three active Kansas City construction projects impacting the Westside business corridor, two from the Public Works Department and one from the Water Department.

1. Public Works Department is actively working on the Southwest Boulevard Streetscape and the Las Tarascas statue plaza, which includes traffic calming, a shared use path, beautification and more:

• Work is substantially complete on the Southwest Boulevard Streetscape, with some additional landscaping to be done when the plants arrive.
• Construction of the Las Tarascas statue plaza is substantially completed, with additional landscaping still to come.
• A ceremony to celebrate the completion of the Southwest Boulevard Streetscape, improvements under the bridge, and the Las Tarascas statue plaza will be held Tuesday, June 16, 2026 at 12:00 PM. The portion of W Pennsylvania next to the Las Tarascas plaza will close the evening of Monday, June 15 in preparation for the event.

2. Water Department is currently replacing waterlines throughout the Westside.

• Crews have reached a stopping point in their replacement work, which will not resume until after the 2026 FIFA World Cup
• No public facing impacts at this time
• All parking stalls on the north side of Southwest Boulevard (the side by the restaurants) are clear and open

Completion Status:

• Streetscape construction – COMPLETED
• Paving of roadway – COMPLETED
• New Traffic signals at Summit Street and at Avenida Cesar E Chavez – COMPLETED
• Traffic Signal upgrades at W Pennway Street and at Broadway Boulevard – COMPLETED
• Traffic signal removal at W Pennsylvania Avenue - COMPLETED
• Striping of Roadway - COMPLETED
• Water line replacement (to 25^th St) – COMPLETED
• Westside banner installation – COMPLETED
• Resolving sewer issues – COMPLETED
• New LED lights under I-35 bridge – COMPLETED
• Six new security cameras under I-35 bridge – COMPLETED
• Pigeon abatement – ONGOING
• New Bus Shelter at Summit – COMPLETED
• Bike Racks - COMPLETED
• 17 new garbage cans – COMPLETED
• 20+ new trees – COMPLETED
• Las Tarascas Statue – COMPLETED
• Las Tarascas Plaza - COMPLETED

To be completed with minimal public impact:

• 3 small light poles will be installed around the Las Tarascas plaza, but these are on back-order for several months.  All the conduits and bases are ready, once they arrive they will be installed.
• Public Parking signs are expected to be installed for the bridge parking areas by the end of June 2026.
• Work on converting the old Westside fountain into a planter is expected to take place in July 2026.

Public Engagement Update:

Thank you to those who submitted feedback on several design aspects for the Las Tarascas plaza, Westside fountain, and power boxes. While comments on the SpeakEasy page have closed, the webpage can still be viewed.

The Project Manager for the Southwest Boulevard Streetscape Project previously spoke at the Westside Neighborhood Association meeting on January 15, 2026 and April 2, 2026. He gave updates on the project and led a public discussion about plans for the Las Tarascas statue. He gave a similar presentation to the Sacred Heart Neighborhood on February 1, 2026. 

Multiple meetings were held previously during the transportation study period (more details below) and in May of 2025.

Project Overview

Major improvements are coming to Southwest Boulevard, with over $43.6 Million of total investment.  This work will be done in two phases, with phase one spanning along Southwest Boulevard from 25th Street to Broadway Boulevard and phase two spanning along Southwest Boulevard from 31st Street to 25th Street. Work on phase one work started in January 2025 and consists of the following projects:

• Roadway repaving - $400,000 invested
• Sidewalk repairs - $25,000 invested
• Streetscape improvements with a shared use path - $2 Million invested
• New signals - $900,000 invested
• Water main replacement - $9.4 Million invested
• Flood storage - $30 Million invested
• New trash cans - $48,000 invested
• Various upgrades under the I-35 Overpass - $560,000 invested
• Community banners/Gateway statue - $265,000 invested

These action items were determined based on a Planning for Sustainable Places (PSP) study that analyzed the Southwest Boulevard corridor from 31st Street to Broadway Boulevard. The goal of implementing these action items is to enhance mobility, safety, and quality of life in Kansas City and the Westside neighborhood.

An open house event was held on May 27, 2025 to share details about these improvements. Click here to view the presentation from that public event.

Project Timeline

Phase one of work is currently underway. While various aspects have different construction start dates, most overall work for phase one is expected to be complete by Summer 2026, in time for the FIFA World Cup. There will be a break in work during the FIFA World Cup, and then phase two is expected to start. 

Phase One Details

Water main replacement:

Replacement of 10,600 linear feet of 6-inch, 8-inch, 10-inch, 16-inch, and 30-inch break-prone or obsolete water mains with resilient high-strength ductile iron pipe (DIP). Project will improve distribution system reliability, increase hydraulic conveyance capacity, and support fire protection.

• Phase I
  • Started in January 2025
  • Summit to 25th Street
  • Completion imminent 

• Phase II
  •  Summer 2025 thru Spring 2027
  • 25th Street to 31st Street
  • Break in work during FIFA World Cup (April to July 2026)

• Install two underground weir storage facilities
• Located behind Royals mural at 25th Street
• Reduce flooding and sewer overflows
• Construction Summer 2026 to July 2027

Sidewalk Repairs and Repaving: 

• Sidewalk Repairs
  • New ADA ramps
  • Sidewalk repairs along north side of roadway
  • Work underway

• Repaving
  • Repaving of roadway from Broadway to 25th Street
  • Scheduled for October 2025
  • More repaving after all construction is completed
  • Lane layout will be reconfigured to improve safety after the road is repaved, check out the configuration here.

Streetscaping:

• Complete Streets (3 lane section with shared use path)
  • Adding green infrastructure
  • Adding shared use path
  • Adding Medians and bump-outs
  • Construction to start July 2025

• Traffic Signals
  • New signals at Summit and under bridge
  • Remove signals at Pennsylvania/close slip ramp
  • Construction to start July 2025

I-35 Overpass Safety and Security Improvements: 

• New lighting under bridge – 13 new lights, 27 upgraded lights
• Security Cameras
• Increased signage for public parking
• Bird Control – Reduce droppings
• Construction to start Summer 2025

New Trash Receptacles:

• 17 currently installed
• New improved design has larger capacity
• Completed in May 2025

Transportation Study

The Southwest Boulevard Transportation Study is a Planning for Sustainable Places project that utilized funds awarded by the Mid-America Regional Council (MARC). This effort was a partnership between Kansas City and Wilson & Company, Engineers and Architects, who led a team of planners, engineers, and landscape architects (Hoxie Collective, SWT Design, and Fresco Marketing) to analyze the Southwest Boulevard corridor from 31^st Street to Broadway Boulevard. After gathering input from residents, stakeholders, and government officials about the corridor’s future potential, the team delivered a summary of recommendations, concluding with a plan aiming to protect residential and commercial areas, implement stormwater best practices and flood hazard mitigation, improve public amenities, and explore a complete streets approach on Southwest Boulevard.

Thank you to all the community members, stakeholders and business owners who participated in this process!

Following are highlights of the engagement process during this study:

• A Public Walking Tour was held on October 21, 2023, and the community provided great feedback to the team on specific goals and challenges along the Boulevard.
• The Virtual Walking Tour survey was shared with the public and additional feedback was received to guide the team’s direction.
• A focus group meeting was held with Kansas City Fire, Police, and EMS.
• A focus group meeting was held with KC Water regarding stormwater and water supply.
• The consultant team hosted a design workshop on alternative design concepts to refine and share with the Stakeholder Group and Public.
• A Spanish focus group meeting with residents and business owners was held.
• The visual preference survey was shared with the public.
• The Stakeholder Group provided input on preliminary design concepts.
• A Public Open House was held on April 4, 2024, and the community provided input on design concepts and recommendations to improve transportation, public space, and the environment.
• The Virtual Open House survey was shared with the public and additional feedback was received to guide the final recommendations.

Southwest Boulevard Study Final Report

Project Contact

Nicolas Bosonetto - Project Manager

(816) 513-2746

Kansas City Public Works, City Engineer