Project Update - June 2026 

Kansas City staff members are currently working on finalizing scope of work for the segment of Blue River Road from Chestnut Drive to Bannister Road in Council District 6.  The plan for the first phase of this project is to convert the abandoned section of roadway into an all-purpose, 12-foot-wide trail (marked in green on the map) by recycling the old pavement asphalt in-place to build the trail surface. This process is called full-depth reclamation (FDR) and it involves a large machine that grinds up old pavement and road base into a useable new surface. 

Additionally, trailheads would be built at each existing terminus point for vehicle to be able to park and turn around to increase accessibility to the trail.  The existing road barriers and mounds would be removed in favor of bollards and lighting would be installed at the trail heads for safety and security.

There is currently $700,000 in budget available for this work. Construction is expected to start in Fall 2026.

Construction of this trail would not prevent a future project to reconstruct the roadway if and when the funding for that work is allocated.  In the meantime, the section of trail would open up this area for recreational uses. 

Phase 1 Overview

• Walking Trail
• Starting 890 feet south of Bannister and extending to the south side of the gravel parking lot.
• Removal of pavement with an approximate pavement thickness of 10 inches.
• Grading and placement of removed pavement (millings) to serve as the trail base.
• Parking Lot
• Grading and Placement of removed pavement (millings) in the gravel parking lot.
• Adding parking area at southern terminus at Chestnut Drive

Blue River Road Details

Blue River Road was first built by Jackson County in 1929 and has experienced multiple structural failures over the years. Today, several portions of the road are closed due to safety and structural issues. Multiple geographic studies of the area were done over the years in an attempt to determine what restoration solutions were feasible. Kansas City previously identified several potential options to restore Blue River Road in various capacities for the community's consideration. Staff members presented those options and started gathering public feedback in April 2025, which culminated in a public engagement event in October 2025 where public testimony was given and submitted questions were addressed by City staff.

Separate from the Public Works project, Kansas City's Neighborhood Services Department is leading beautify the area around the Blue River. A groundbreaking ceremony to kickstart those efforts was held on October 2, 2025.

Public Engagement Details

Kansas City staff gathered community feedback through public meetings, online engagement, and hearing community testimony. Thank you to everyone who attended the public meetings and to everyone who has given feedback along the way. The presentation shown at the October 2025 public meeting can be viewed here. You can also view submitted feedback from April 2025 through October 2025 on the project Speak Easy page.

Project Contacts

Project Manager:

Randy Alewine - (816) 513-2589