Northbound Lanes on US. 169 Opening Soon

In the Spring, the Missouri Department of Transportation will change traffic on northbound U.S. 169 near the Kansas City Downtown Airport.

Cars will share one lane going each way. The lanes will face each other on the bridge. This is because one bridge is closed and will be replaced later.

The northbound bridge closed on Dec. 16, 2025. After checking it, MoDOT decided it was not safe to open. The bridge was already planned to be replaced in summer 2026.

The traffic change will start just past the downtown airport and end near Briarcliff Parkway and Missouri Route 9.
The speed limit will go down from 55 mph to 45 mph.

The new traffic setup will open in spring 2026. The exact date is not set yet and depends on the weather.

What drivers should know:

• You cannot get on southbound U.S. 169 from Route 9.

• You cannot exit northbound U.S. 169 to Route 9.

• The downtown airport will still be open using the Buck O’Neil Bridge.

During construction, the southbound bridge may close for 2 to 3 days. Short delays are expected.

Drivers on northbound U.S. 169 should use Route 9 or I-29/I-35 to go around the area. Other bridge options include Fairfax, Chouteau, Heart of America, Kit Bond, and I-435.