Buck O’Neil Bridge Replacement Design-Build

Our team served as the owner’s engineer for the design-build replacement of the John Jordan “Buck” O’Neil Memorial Bridge. Structural deficiencies necessitated examination of alternatives for the river crossing. Following our team’s planning and environmental linkages (PEL) study and environmental assessment, a new bridge was selected to mitigate a two-year bridge closure during rehabilitation.

Since 1956, the triple-arch bridge has served as a key regional connection between downtown Kansas City and communities north of the Missouri River. Significant community growth on both sides of the river has led to a corresponding increase in bridge traffic.

Though a rehabilitation project would have allowed the bridge to serve another 25 to 30 years, it would not have corrected the functional challenges of the existing configuration. A PEL study — initiated by the Mid-America Regional Council and led by our team — was conducted to identify potential alternatives and funding mechanisms for a new river crossing and inform the final project solution.

Using key information from the PEL study, we seamlessly transitioned to providing a detailed environmental assessment. The assessment sought to identify the effective improvement alternative that would satisfy current and future area transportation needs while minimizing impacts on human and natural environments. Building on our existing relationships and successful engagement campaign along the corridor, our team gathered input from key stakeholders to inform design recommendations.

These initial phases supported MoDOT’s procurement approach for a fixed-price design-build project. With the diverse breadth of information gathered from in-depth studies and conceptual permitting with federal and local agencies, MoDOT was able to mitigate project risks and maximize its scope for critical project proposals.