Is the Kansas Avenue bridge in Topeka closed to traffic?
TOPEKA (KSNT) - A new road work project is causing headaches for some drivers and pedestrians in Topeka near a bridge crossing the Kansas River.
The City of Topeka initially announced the road work project on June 5 along with a list of detour instructions for drivers and pedestrians. The project consists of a partial closure of Southwest First Avenue at South Kansas Avenue bridge which will limit north and southbound traffic through the area for vehicles under 26,000 gross vehicle weight (GVW).
The project officially started on Monday, June 10 with planned detours to remain in place through Friday, July 12 as part of "Project 5" for the ongoing Polk-Quincy Viaduct utility relocation efforts. These detour routes include:
- Eastbound First Avenue traffic is detoured on Southwest Topeka Boulevard, south to Southwest 10th Avenue, east to Southeast Branner Street, north to Southeast Fourth Street, west to Southeast Adams Street, then north to East First Avenue.
- Westbound First Avenue is detoured to Southeast Adams Street, south to Southeast Fourth Street, east to Southeast Branner Street, south to Southeast 10th Avenue, west to Southwest Topeka Boulevard, north to West First Avenue.
While this road work may be inconvenient for drivers and pedestrians, the bridge is still open for use by both. Amanda Knowland with the City of Topeka told 27 News the bridge remains open despite nearby road work projects which may make it appear otherwise. Larger vehicles, such as semi-trucks, fire trucks and buses, are the only types of vehicles barred from using the detour route over the bridge due to the weight limit.
For more information on detour routes around the road work taking place near the Kansas Avenue bridge, check out the document below from the City of Topeka:
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