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| A look at high waters near the Lewis and Clark Viaduct construction area last week. |
Public Affairs Manager, Kansas City Metro
Even though parts of Kansas will see a brief break in the rain for a few days, the completion of the Lewis and Clark Viaduct I-70 westbound bridge reconstruction, which was due to be completed in December 2019, will be delayed. High water has prevented crews from accessing pier sites in the Kansas River. While the sites remain inaccessible, work on the piers, which are upright supports for the superstructure, cannot continue.
The Lewis and Clark Viaduct crosses the Kansas River 1,500 feet from the confluence of the Missouri River, making it susceptible to high water conditions from both rivers.
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| Hydrograph from May 24 |
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| Current Hydrograph with predictions of the flood stage into early next week. |
“We need the water level to come down to safely continue the work,” said Jason Van Nice, KDOT Metro Engineer for Wyandotte County. According to the National Weather Service, the Kansas River at 23rd St. exceeded 36 feet on May 22, 2019, twice the daily average.
Above-average spring rain and late season
snow contributed to elevated flood risk for 25 states facing major or moderate
flooding from March through May, including Kansas and Missouri, according to
the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) Spring Outlook. “Significant, record breaking flooding
is already underway across the Lower Missouri River Basin. To keep track of this area's flood stages, click here.
A storm system in the middle of March brought two-four inches of rain across the already saturated area. The combined effects of these rains and snowmelt also produced enhanced runoff. The northern Plains have an above normal snowpack, and the flood risk is expected to stay relatively high for the region throughout the spring,” according to NOAA.
A storm system in the middle of March brought two-four inches of rain across the already saturated area. The combined effects of these rains and snowmelt also produced enhanced runoff. The northern Plains have an above normal snowpack, and the flood risk is expected to stay relatively high for the region throughout the spring,” according to NOAA.
Between March 13 and May 21, crews lost 58 of 70 possible workdays due to the high water. Recent weather in
the Kansas City metro has already produced two to four inches of rain and more rain is expected next week.
KDOT won’t have an updated completion date estimate until crews can access the
work sites and make an assessment. Current detour and traffic control measures
will remain in place until the completion of the project.
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| Rainfall in inches, over the past 30 days. Source: NOAA |
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