Intercity Viaduct
Encyclopedia
The Intercity Viaduct is an automobile and pedestrian crossing of the Kansas River
in the United States. Designed by Waddell and Redrick, this four lane, two level deck truss bridge was built in 1907. It rises above the West Bottoms
, and several sets of railroad tracks. It was the first roadway bridge to connect Kansas City, Missouri
with Kansas City, Kansas
non-stop all the way across. It about one and a half miles long and carries Interstate 70
eastbound traffic, its sister bridge, the Lewis and Clark Viaduct built in 1962, carries westbound traffic.
The eastbound lanes were built as the Intercity Viaduct, carrying both east and west lanes, but renamed the Lewis and Clark Viaduct January 25, 1969, taking the name of its sister bridge that would now carry the westbound lanes, built in 1962 to the north.
1907:
Opens to two lanes of toll traffic, with streetcar tracks.
1908:
Bridge survives 1908 flood.
1911:
Bank foreclosed on bridge, toll not making enough money to pay off bridge building cost.
1917:
Bridge purchased by Kansas City, Kansas and Kansas City, Missouri
1918:
Ribbon cutting ceremony held to open bridge to free traffic under city control, and ownership.
1930:
Steel deck truss beams converted to a lower level, two lane automobile deck.
1936:
Streetcar rails removed, and bridge opened to four lanes of traffic on upper level.
1951:
Bridge survives 1951 Kansas City flood
, becoming the only bridge to remain open to traffic during the flood.
1962:
Lewis and Clark Viaduct built to north, old steel piers tubed off, and coated with concrete.
1969:
Bridge renamed the Lewis and Clark Viaduct after its sister bridge.
1993:
Bridge survives 1993 Kansas City flood
.
1999-2000:
Lower level of original (eastbound) bridge rehabilitated for pedestrian and bicycle access.
2007:
Bridge turns 100 years of age, several people gather from West Bottoms on the same day it opened in 1907, held lights to bridge, honoring it for its 100 years of service.
Kansas River
The Kansas River is a river in northeastern Kansas in the United States. It is the southwestern-most part of the Missouri River drainage, which is in turn the northwestern-most portion of the extensive Mississippi River drainage. Its name come from the Kanza people who once inhabited the area...
in the United States. Designed by Waddell and Redrick, this four lane, two level deck truss bridge was built in 1907. It rises above the West Bottoms
West Bottoms
The West Bottoms is an industrial area immediately to the west of downtown Kansas City, Missouri at the confluence of the Missouri River and the Kansas River. The area is one of the oldest areas of the city....
, and several sets of railroad tracks. It was the first roadway bridge to connect Kansas City, Missouri
Kansas City, Missouri
Kansas City, Missouri is the largest city in the U.S. state of Missouri and is the anchor city of the Kansas City Metropolitan Area, the second largest metropolitan area in Missouri. It encompasses in parts of Jackson, Clay, Cass, and Platte counties...
with Kansas City, Kansas
Kansas City, Kansas
Kansas City is the third-largest city in the state of Kansas and is the county seat of Wyandotte County. It is a suburb of Kansas City, Missouri, and is the third largest city in the Kansas City Metropolitan Area. The city is part of a consolidated city-county government known as the "Unified...
non-stop all the way across. It about one and a half miles long and carries Interstate 70
Interstate 70
Interstate 70 is an Interstate Highway in the United States that runs from Interstate 15 near Cove Fort, Utah, to a Park and Ride near Baltimore, Maryland. It was the first Interstate Highway project in the United States. I-70 approximately traces the path of U.S. Route 40 east of the Rocky...
eastbound traffic, its sister bridge, the Lewis and Clark Viaduct built in 1962, carries westbound traffic.
The eastbound lanes were built as the Intercity Viaduct, carrying both east and west lanes, but renamed the Lewis and Clark Viaduct January 25, 1969, taking the name of its sister bridge that would now carry the westbound lanes, built in 1962 to the north.
History
Designed by the engineering firm, Waddell and Redrick in 1903, the viaduct followed a flood that same year that wiped out all but one of the 17 bridges that spawned the Kaw River. Ground broke to mark the building of the bridge in 1905.1907:
Opens to two lanes of toll traffic, with streetcar tracks.
1908:
Bridge survives 1908 flood.
1911:
Bank foreclosed on bridge, toll not making enough money to pay off bridge building cost.
1917:
Bridge purchased by Kansas City, Kansas and Kansas City, Missouri
1918:
Ribbon cutting ceremony held to open bridge to free traffic under city control, and ownership.
1930:
Steel deck truss beams converted to a lower level, two lane automobile deck.
1936:
Streetcar rails removed, and bridge opened to four lanes of traffic on upper level.
1951:
Bridge survives 1951 Kansas City flood
Great Flood of 1951
In mid-July 1951, heavy rains led to a great rise of water in the Kansas River and other surrounding areas. Flooding resulted in the Kansas, Neosho, Marais Des Cygnes, and Verdigris river basins. The damage in June and July 1951 exceeded $935 million dollars in an area covering eastern Kansas and...
, becoming the only bridge to remain open to traffic during the flood.
1962:
Lewis and Clark Viaduct built to north, old steel piers tubed off, and coated with concrete.
1969:
Bridge renamed the Lewis and Clark Viaduct after its sister bridge.
1993:
Bridge survives 1993 Kansas City flood
Great Flood of 1993
The Great Mississippi and Missouri Rivers Flood of 1993 occurred in the American Midwest, along the Mississippi and Missouri rivers and their tributaries, from April to October 1993. The flood was among the most costly and devastating to ever occur in the United States, with $15 billion in damages...
.
1999-2000:
Lower level of original (eastbound) bridge rehabilitated for pedestrian and bicycle access.
2007:
Bridge turns 100 years of age, several people gather from West Bottoms on the same day it opened in 1907, held lights to bridge, honoring it for its 100 years of service.