KC Star

I looked closely at today's print version of the Star, didn't see anything on yesterday's press conference, however there is an online article if you want to check.
http://www.kansascity.com/news/breaking_news/story/773011.html

"That re-design process usually takes three to five years to complete,” he said. “We were able to complete it in two years. When re-designing, you are dealing with a number of factors, including land acquisition, utility relocation and soil quality. It is more than just saying, ‘the road needs to go from here to there, let’s bid it’.” Sean DeMory, Capital Improvements Management Office (CIMO). Where does Funkhouser need to turn up the heat? Seems like his flamethrower can be aimed in a number of directions.

A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood

And a great day for a photo op, especially if you are a politician. Mayor Funkhouser hosted a press conference today regarding the Barry Road Bridge, his second visit to the site visit within two weeks. Abundant news coverage by the local TV networks, radio and press. Many elected officials. One TV station already had a snippet on the air @ 11AM.

Funkhouser said all the right things for the crowd of about 75 folks. “This problem had been developing for years and years” “Two and a half years to replace the bridge is too long” “We want to be a good neighbor” “Routing (traffic) through a residential area is not good” We need to pay attention…city staff should talk and listen”

Julie Floyd of the Coalition to Fix Barry Road mentioned the 4 plus years the Coalition has been toiling to get the improvements of Barry Road in place. A great quote…”The road that time has forgotten”.

WL Mayor Jerry Bos pointed out this was not a Weatherby Lake problem, cited the earnings tax and sales tax WL citizens pay to KCMO. Mentioned our relationship with KCMO because of water and sewer.

Doug Hooten of MAST, Kathy Dusenberry and Bill Quitmeier, candidates for Platte County Commisioner all made brief remarks, nothing earth shattering.

Q & A from those in the crowd
“What is a realistic timeframe for the bridge replacement?” Funkhouser mentioned the I-35 bridge in MN…if they could do it in a year we could do this too.

“What happened to the payment from the State to KCMO when the bridge was deeded to KCMO. Wasn’t this for replacement of the bridge?” Funkhouser, “I know nothing.

Curiously AWOL. Councilmen Johnson and Ford. Of course City Manager Cauthen, or any other KCMO bureaucrat. County Commissioners Plunkett, Pryor and Knight. Possibly heading out early for a long weekend on the Lake?

So, the Funk has put, as he says, “the flag in the ground”. For those of you who use Outlook/Outlook Express make a date with me on the BRB for one year from today, 2009. Ribbon cutting?

Funkhouser Returns to BRB

KC Mayor Funkhouser is holding a press conference tomorrow (Friday) at the BRB. Not known what he will say or do...we will have to wait and see. Thanks to Anonymous for the heads up. Weatherby Lake Mayor Bos will also be in attendance. I hope to have an update tomorrow.

MIA

Platte County Commissioners have largely been missing in action regarding BRB. A few comments in the news, nothing earthshaking, certainly nothing publicly that shows they are out front on the bridge issue. Who should be leading the charge? Betty Knight, Tom Pryor, Jim Plunkett? Answer=all three. Betty Knight is the Presiding Commissioner and the titular head of county government. Although the bridge is "owned" by KCMO, it is in Platte County and therefore affects citizens (and voters) of Platte County. Jim Plunkett is Commissioner for District 2 which boundary includes Barry Road and the bridge. Those of you who live in Weatherby Lake are in District 1 which is represented by Tom Pryor. The phone number for the County Admin office is 858-3334. I feel sure Betty, Jim and Tom would love to hear your feedback concerning the BRB.

Barry Road West

Not to distract you from the BRB, but there is lots of action on the Barry Road corridor including the piece west of Potomac that will be managed by Platte County...fyi

You can double click on the pic to enlarge.

KCMO Talks Back

I received an email response to a BRB question I posed to Sean Demory, of KCMO.

"The bridge deck is structurally unsound, which is why the bridge was reduced to one lane. Drivers didn't heed the temporary fix of lane reduction, and large vehicles drove on the bridge despite signs and detours, which created an active hazard to drivers.Our team is looking into a range of options to resolve this in the swiftest possible manner. Thanks for your continued interest, and feel free to contact me if you have any additional questions".

Best,
Sean Demory
Public Relations/CommunicationsCapital Improvements Management Office

MoDOT Bridge Inspections

The BRB is no longer inspected by MoDot since the bridge was deeded to KCMO (per MoDot). KCMO conducts their own inspections...could it be they use the same guidelines?

This page was last modified 11:34, 26 December 2007.
Category:772 Bridge Inspections
From Engineering Policy Guide

All span type and culvert type bridges over 20 feet in length shall be inspected every two years. The
following bridges will be inspected annually:
1. Structures in poor or worse condition (condition 4 rating or less) for items 58, 59, 60, or 62 on the bridge inspection rating form.
2. Structures with timber structural members (sub-structural, super-structural, or decks) that are not included in the other criteria.
The bridge inspection frequency for a particular structure can be set at time intervals ranging from monthly to every six months if the bridge inspection staff feel that additional monitoring of the structure is required to insure the safety of the traveling public.
District's 4, 6, and 8 have personnel in the districts to conduct these inspections. The remaining districts will be inspected by Maintenance Division Bridge Maintenance personnel, with the assistance of district personnel knowledgeable in maintenance and bridges. Bridge-like structures less than 20 ft. - 00 in. shall be the responsibility of the district to inspect and maintain. Maintenance charges for these structures shall be charged to the roadway.
Bridges jointly maintained with neighboring states shall be inspected in accordance with the "Maintenance agreements" in effect. The inspection will be done by representatives from Missouri (from both the district and Central Office, Maintenance Division, Bridge Maintenance Section) and representatives from the neighboring state.
The district will inspect any affected structures following any unusual occurrence such as fire, flood, overloading, collision, or damage of any type. Any damage occurring to a bridge superstructure or subsbstructure shall immediately be reported to the Maintenance Division. On evenings, weekends and holidays the State Bridge Maintenance Engineer shall be contacted when a bridge emergency occurs.
The guidelines set forth in the Bridge Inspection Rating shall be used when assigning rating and appraisal values to the corresponding items for bridges and culverts. The inspections shall address the items on the "Bridge Inspection Reports" and "Culverts Inspection Reports", generated by TMS. All inspections shall be thorough and complete so that all needed maintenance and repair work may be identified. The individual in charge of the inspection shall meet the qualifications spelled out in the National Bridge Inspection Standards.
Fracture critical, in-depth, underwater, and other special inspections shall be identified and noted on the "Bridge Inspection Reports." Central Office, Bridge Maintenance Section inspection crews shall be responsible for performing these inspections within the specified time interval. Central Office bridge maintenance personnel will perform quality assurance inspections on an annual basis.

Retrieved from "http://epg.modot.mo.gov/index.php?title=Category:772_Bridge_Inspections"
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Category:772 Bridge Inspections - Engineering Policy Guide
8/25/2008
http://epg.modot.mo.gov/index.php?title=Category:772_Bridge_Inspections

My favorite KCMO Councilman Ed Ford quotes

"In a perfect world, Weatherby Lake would be paying for (the repair) since they're the ones who use it." Ed Ford, Parkville Luminary, August 22

No comments about his constituents/voters/taxpayers who live in WildWood and WildWood West. I guess he would rather make this a Weatherby Lake issue, conveniently, because WL residents are not KCMO voters. Bill Quitmeier, Democratic candidate for Platte County Commissioner, makes a good point, a number of Weatherby Lake folks pay earnings tax to KCMO.

"The immediate concern is that the bridge is literally caving in" Ed Ford, Parkville Luminary, August 15.

Really? So we have been travelling on a bridge for months (years?) that is caving in? I understand the appearance and the potholes. You would think they would produce a report that substantiates the "caving in". More importantly, this isn't something that just happened now, it has been ongoing. Why didn't KCMO do something? Why are the politicians carrying the ball on something Public Works should be engaged? Try and get a response from Department of Public Works head Stan Harris. Good luck. Who is the villain in this story?

"Heavier trucks are really compromising the safety of the bridge...We know overweight trucks are still using it." Ed Ford, Parkville Luminary, August 15.

Ok, so many of you use the BRB daily, if not a number of times a day. How many times have you seen any kind of law enforcement patrolling or conducting surveillance of the bridge? For me twice, and that was well into the cone fiasco and days before the bridge was closed. Is weight limit enforcement on bridges a top priority for KCMO? Nah. Check out the bridge on Amity between 86th Terrace and 87 Terrace. Violations every day.

"We'd hate to have an overweight truck cross the bridge, then have a school bus try and cross and have it cave in...we'd hate to have it cave in on anybody." Ed Ford, Parkville Luminary, August 15

Nothing like a good visual to spice up a story. It was for children, thank goodness.

No Kidding

KCMO Streets added new signage this past Friday to commemorate the first week of the bridge closing. This sign added near Potomac and Barry. Nice touch.

Pity the poor folks who have rented the WL Community Center for parties. Yesterday detour route of choice? Home made signs guiding the traffic through Wildwood...of course.

See tomorrow's post regarding KCMO Councilman Ed Ford. In the meantime, take a look at yesterday's comments by WildWood Mike. Food for thought.

"Afraid to even walk his dog across it"

Quote from today's KC Star, page B2, The Watchdog Column entitiled "While the bridge is closed, use another road" (duh?). The Dog gives Weatherby Lake resident Pat Imperale's version of the ills and danger of the BRB.

The Dog repeats KCMO blather about the detour route "Missouri 152 by way of North Amity Avenue or Northwest Hampton Road". As astute readers of this blog know and experience, Wildwood via Crawford/Beech/NW87th Terrace and NW 86th Terrace are the portals for most local traffic seeking a detour route.

Crash Course

This comes via a high school student, so, as always, your results may vary. Announcements at the high school yesterday came with a note of caution about the Barry Road Bridge detour. Apparently a student was involved in an accident in Wildwood where a vehicle was backing out of a drive. They asked students who drive in the neighborhood to use caution. Good advice.

Us adults should heed our own advice. On the way back from PHHS yesterday evening I followed a woman in a Honda minivan, in Wildwood, obviously lost. I could see her in her side mirror, talking on her cell phone, "You want me to turn right on Wayland?"...as she really wasn't watching the approaching intersection.

We have a student driver in our house and the unofficial official detour through Wildwood is proving to be a good test of skill, judgement and patience for our new driver. We'll keep our eyes on the road and brakes at the ready. We know they don't call it Wild Wood for nothing!

911

Attended an Ambulance District for South Platte meeting last night. For my friends in Wildwood this pertains to cities around you but not KCMO. However, information at the meeting does affect all of us because MAST (Metropolitan Ambulance Services Trust) provides ambulance service for KCMO as well as the South Platte Ambulance District. Jason White, a Director for MAST, gave an update to the District on response times for calls. He stated the bridge closure on Barry Road is a "significant issue", with his estimate of 10 calls for assistance per week with MAST ambulances traversing the bridge. In his words, Barry Road is a "major east/west artery" and they are currently trying to determine best alternate routes, which in some cases can be as much as three miles.

I wonder if KCMO Councilman Johnson shares your "frustration" with the prospect of lengthened response times for MAST, Fire and Police?

Better Late Than Never, Not Really

The KC Star finally did an article on the Barry Road Bridge, aka, Rush Creek Bridge, in today's edition of the Platte County Neighborhood News (page 1). If you don't subscribe to the Star I wouldn't run out and buy one to read the article. Just a rehash of what has been on the TV news and in print (Luminary) elsewhere. Reporter Mike Rice cites the "dangerous and dilapidated Rush Creek Bridge". The only elected official he quotes is KCMO 2nd district Councilman Russ Johnson who says "he too was frustrated that the project is taking so long". (What is he going to say 2 and a half years from now when the project is still looking for the finish line?) Speaking of a slow crawl, I am sure you notice the mess (read Barry Road) in front of the High School. The current completion date is set for April, 2009.

Johnson's solution is to "urge the city manager and his staff...to move construction along as quickly as possible". Now that is a man of action! To borrow an O'Reilly phrase..who is looking out for you? So far neither elected officials (KCMO/Weatherby Lake) nor bureaucrats are stepping up to the plate. They are willing to share your "frustration" and "inconvenience". Is that good enough for you?

In a Funk

The Mayor of Weatherby Lake, Jerry Bos and Mayor Funkhouser met midday on the Barry Road Bridge last Saturday. I think it is safe to say the bridge is going to remain closed, at least from their point of view. Apparently the Funk mentioned the possibility of the winning contractor (bids won't be awarded for at least two months) could decide to begin work on this end of the project rather than the east end. Don't hold your breath.

NEXT?

I’m sure on your new commute route via Amity Road you have crossed this bridge right? You might not have noticed it with the overgrowth of vegetation, but it is there, next to the Brittany Woodcastle entrance (86th street). It appears to be an old concrete bridge, I didn’t go down into the ditch/stream to look further. As you recall from previous posts and TV news pieces, the Barry Road Bridge was closed due to overweight loads on the bridge. The Barry Road Bridge is posted for 15 tons…Amity is 13 tons. Could this be the next target for Councilmen Ford and Johnson and the KCMO Department of Public Works?

How was the first full day of the commute via the official unofficial detour through Wildwood? Comments?

More contacts to call-KCMO Dept Of Public Works Press Release

Mr Demory, noted below, was interviewed by NBC and aired Friday evening.
Rush Creek Bridge on Barry Road closed
The City of Kansas City, Mo., Public Works Department will close the Rush Creek Bridge on Barry Road, west of North Amity Avenue, at 9 a.m. on Aug 15 due to damage from overweight loads.
A construction project to replace the Rush Creek Bridge and improve the section of Barry Road from North Conant to North Amity avenues is scheduled to bid this fall, with work beginning in the winter. The bridge will remain closed until the replacement and road improvement projects are complete in 2010.
Traffic on Barry Road will detour to Missouri Highway 152 via North Amity Avenue to the east and Northwest Hampton Road to the west.
For information about the Rush Creek Bridge and Barry Road construction project, contact Sean Demory, communications specialist for the Capital Improvements Management Office, (816) 513-0059.
Media inquiries and other requests for more information about this closure should be directed to Dennis Gagnon, public information officer for the Public Works Department, (816) 513-2659.

Parkville Luminary "Bridge to Nowhere"

Friday, August 15th edition, Front Page, Publisher Mark Vasto notes the closing of the bridge "with very little advance warning to residents or officials of Weatherby Lake". KC MO Councilman Ed Ford is quoted as saying he feared a head on collision on the bridge (a situation KC MO created) and there was too much weight from construction traffic. "The immediate concern is that the bridge is literally caving in" Ford said. The full article can be found at various outlets in Parkville.

Councilman Russ Johnson is on the same page. His August 14th press release mentions "damage caused by overweight loads on the bridge". Makes you wonder, if they know what caused the damage, why didn't they do something about it? I traveled the BRB daily since 1999 and have not seen any law enforcement monitoring traffic on the bridge...until about 10 days ago when I saw a cement mixer pulled over on Potomac by an unmarked police van. I understand they were cited for exceeding the bridge weight limit and being over the max limit for the rating of the vehicle. I saw the van again the next day parked on Forest...waiting. Other than that...

Ford and Johnson know why the bridge is unsafe, I wonder if they know why overweight loads were allowed seemingly at will to cause the condition?

AWOL = KC Star. As of today's edition, nary a word about the BRB. Broadcast news has been on the story albeit a bit goofy, the Luminary beat the big guys to the punch. Kudos to Vasto.

The Latest Spin

Add another twist to the litany of excuses/reasons for the closing of the bridge. Yesterday Fox 4 had a number of features on the BRB, the one that I saw mentioned officials are saying "motorists failing to heed the speed limit caused the premature closing of the bridge." Add this to the list of "unsafe", "safety reasons", "safety concerns", "overweight traffic", "noise" as public officials scramble to justify the closure. If you get more than one official to respond you are likely to get a different answer to the question Why? Can you say public relations disaster? Wait until our unenlightened brothers and sisters encounter the barricades and detour signs today. As one of the Weatherby Lake aldermen put it, we will be "inconvenienced". I could think of other descriptions.

Statement from Councilman Johnson----------- Double Click on Text

Park Hill School District Email

The Park Hill School District received word that the bridge over Weatherby Lake on Barry Road is scheduled to close on Friday.
The city of Kansas City informed the district that the bridge will close for safety reasons, and they expect the closure to occur on Friday. They said traffic will be detoured to 152 Highway via Amity and Hampton roads. They plan to reopen it in 2010, once they have replaced the bridge and widened Barry Road.
The Park Hill School District anticipated that the bridge would close, so our bus routes do not use the bridge this year. Parents and students driving to school might want to leave more time to get through the detour.

Nicole Kirby
kirbyn@parkhill.k12.mo.us

Two and a half years...and counting

The Barry Road Bridge closes, for the next two and a half years, beginning this Friday, August 15th. Frustrated? Maybe you can find the answer here:

Weatherby Lake
Mayor Jerry Bos
746-6400
jbos@cityofweatherbylake-mo.gov

West Ward Aldermen
Mary Hoy 584-1365
Vic DeJong 587-4865

East Ward Aldermen
Tanya Finn 587-9957
Pat White 741-3100

KCMO
Russ Johnson, 2nd District Councilman
Traci Gleason, assistant
513-1622
traci_gleason@kcmo.org

Ed Ford, 2nd District At Large Councilman
Lisa Minardi, assistant
513-1601
lisa_minardi@kcmo.org

Stan Harris, Director of Public Works
513-2627

The BRB

Fellow BRBrs:
Weatherby Lake, Wildwood, Masters, Weatherby Highlands and all others who travel the Barry Road Bridge...we have a problem. But then I guess you already realize that. The BRB is only going to get worse, don't even want to think about winter traversing the BRB. Think long haul, we could be saddled with the current situation for a year...or more. We need to lean on our elected officials and bureaucrats to fix it...now. Your thoughts and connections needed. Comments?