Plan ahead: Memorial Weekend could bring record travel
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (KCTV) - This Memorial Day weekend could bring record travel with 45 million Americans heading out at least 50 miles from home and 39 million using the roads to get where they’re going.
KCTV First Warn Traffic Reporter Taylor Johnson spoke with the Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDoT) and the Kansas Department of Transportation (KDoT).
On the Kansas side, both I-435 and 69 Highway projects will be active this weekend, so expect delays. That does include 18th Street and K5 work in Wyandotte County. Work and lane closures will not be in place on I-70 or northbound I-35.
On the Missouri side, crews are shutting down road work starting noon Friday, May 23, until 6 a.m. on Tuesday after Memorial Day. A lane will still be closed for the I-435 bridge work in Clay County from Parvin Road to 48 Street. MoDoT says even with laying off construction drivers will still notice impacts as road crews begin their busiest season.
“They are still going to see those work zones that can cause of a bit of a backup, especially on the I-435 bridge rehab project by World’s of Fun, that’s one of them, and then you’ve got our Improve I-70 Project so near 23rd street they’ll see a lane drop in each direction, that way two lanes will remain open still, but that may impact traffic some, especially for those folks coming through Kansas City,” said Brooke Rohlfing, MoDoT Communications.
KDoT is asking for drivers to slow down and use caution in those work zones to protect their engers and the workers alike. Even if workers are not easily visible, it’s important to follow road signs. KDoT also has an app to check conditions.
*47 in Kansas and *55 in Missouri help drivers both KDoT and MoDOT to report large debris or other issues on the interstates and highways.
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