Beginning Monday, January 20, the KC Streetcar Riverfront Extension team will begin work that includes significant impacts to downtown streetcar service and River Market road and bridge closures.
The following schedule is subject to change, weather and unforeseen circumstances permitting. This work includes installing rail switches, building needed track for the extension, connecting the new system to the existing streetcar, and building the new platform at 3rd Street and Grand Boulevard.
Grand Boulevard will close between 2nd Street and 3rd Street will remain closed for the duration of this work. Vehicular traffic should use 3rd Street, Walnut Street, and 2nd Street to detour around the work.
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- Grand Boulevard will close between 2nd Street and 3rd Street.
- Access to Chinatown Market is available via Walnut Street and 2nd Street.
On January 27, the downtown KC Streetcar will temporarily suspend service for approximately two weeks for track construction and connection at the intersection of 3rd Street and Grand Boulevard.
The suspension of the downtown KC Streetcar system is necessary to connect the newly installed tracks for the Riverfront Extension to the existing route and make adjustments to the current track turnouts to better accommodate the fully connected system.
A new equilateral, or a switch to allow the cars to move between two sets of tracks, will be installed at the corner of 3rd Street and Grand Boulevard that will allow streetcars to turn right on 3rd Street from southbound Grand Boulevard. After constructing the equilateral, crews will continue to install tracks from the equilateral, over the bridge, and connect to the tracks already installed at the riverfront. To accommodate this work, 3rd Street will be closed from Grand Boulevard to Walnut Street, including the intersection of 3rd Street and Grand Boulevard.
The downtown KC Streetcar temporary service suspension is essential for this work to be conducted. During the streetcar suspension, a bus bridge will be provided similar to the service provided in fall 2024. These buses will stop at designated streetcar stops and operate with regular streetcar hours. All streetcar stops will be open EXCEPT the River Market North stop at 3rd Street & Grand Boulevard because of the intersection closure. When the work is complete and the system is connected and tested, the 3rd Street & Grand Boulevard intersection will reopen, and the KC Streetcar downtown line will resume operations as normal.
For information related to the temporary streetcar service suspension, please visit kcstreetcar.org/riverfrontextension.
On approximately February 24, crews will begin what is expected to be the final bridge closure to install track on the bridge and complete all track work for the project. This closure is expected to last approximately 60 days.
- Grand Boulevard will remain closed between 2nd Street and 3rd Street.
- The Grand Boulevard/Berkley Parkway bridge will close from 2nd Street to Front Street.
- Access to Chinatown Market will be allowed on Grand Boulevard when it’s safe to do so. When closed, employees and customers may use Walnut Street and 2nd Street to access.
Follow the progress! Find the team online on X (@kcriverfront), Instagram (@kcriverfront), and Facebook (@kcstreetcarriverfront). Contact the construction team by email at info@riverfrontkcstreetcar.com or phone at 816-614-6826.