Project Update: 

Updated 5/27/26

The grand opening for the 18th Street Pedestrian Mall was held May 27, 2026. The completion of this project marked a major milestone in the restoration of the Jazz District and the overarching Revive the Vine effort. Community members, businesses owners and City officials gathered for a celebration and an open house, the first of many events to come utilizing the newly revamped corridor. Thank you to the 18th and Vine community and business owners for their patience and support throughout the construction process; this effort would not have been possible without you all. 

• 18th Street is open to traffic, except during permitted events that require closing the street 
• Highland Avenue is reopened to traffic
• Vine Street is open to traffic 

Project Overview

Streetscape improvements for the 18th Street Pedestrian Mall project involve turing 18th Street between the Paseo and Woodland Avenue into a seamless corridor for pedestrian activity by removing curbs, gutters, and parking along 18th Street. Replacement parking and additional spots will be provided in a new parking garage that's being constructed on the south side of 18th Street, west of Paseo.

For accessibility, the Pedestrian Mall features ADA compliant ramps with truncated domes at all intersections. The area is designed to support public events, with the ability to enact an "activation plan" to set up bollards and close 18th Street to vehicles from Woodland Avenue to The Paseo. Vehicular traffic is still be able to get through the 18th Street corridor when events are not taking place. 

Construction of the 18th Street Pedestrian Mall project is funded by $4 million secured by Congressman Emanuel Cleaver and over $2 million approved by Kansas City, Missouri.

Photo below shows 18th Street when it is open to traffic:

Project Fact Sheet

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Project Timeline

Major construction:

• Work on 18th Street from The Paseo to Vine Street started June 2025.
• Major construction from The Paseo to Vine Street delayed due to crews running into an unforeseen Evergy vault underground, pushing the end of that phase to October 2025.
• To keep project on schedule, constructors have started major construction on 18th Street between Vine Street and Highland Avenue. 
• As of October 20, 2025, construction is underway on all of 18th Street between The Paseo and Woodland Avenue.
• As of December 12, 2025, 18th Street from The Paseo to Vine Street is nearly complete. 18th Street between Vine Street and Highland Avenue is in progress, with substantial completion of that portion expected in January 2026 (weather permitting).
• As of February 2026, construction is mostly completed on 18th Street from The Paseo to Highland Avenue, with some minor work still needed in those areas. Work is underway on the last portion of 18th Street, from Highland Avenue to Woodland Avenue. 
• As of April 2026, concrete work is substantially complete. Crews are finishing water line replacements along Highland Avenue, installing the streetlighting controller and finishing up decorative features and landscaping.
• Grand opening held May 27, 2026 - project substantially complete.

Water main replacement on Vine Street:

• Work started Mid-June 2025.
• Work is substantially complete as of December 2025.

Water main replacement on Highland Avenue:

• Started in December 2025.
• Work completed at the end of May 2026.

Project Contact

Amy Bunnell, Project Manager

(816) 513-2748