MoDOT: U.S. 71 NB Lanes Close This Weekend; I-35 Ramp Today | The Locally Times
Weekend U.S. 71 northbound closures, today's I-35 ramp shutdown, and ongoing bridge replacements will snarl Jackson County traffic through April.
Kansas City commuters face a weekend of traffic headaches as U.S. 71 northbound lanes over 11th Street close for bridge work, part of a broader series of MoDOT projects kicking off today, Thursday, March 26, 2026, that will impact major roadways through April. Drivers should prepare for significant delays on U.S. Route 71 and Interstate 35 as the Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT) implements critical maintenance, replacement, and ramp closure projects. ## Weekend Gridlock: U.S. 71 Northbound Closures This weekend, U.S. 71 northbound over 11th Street in Kansas City will see significant ramp and lane closures as MoDOT undertakes bridge deck pavement operations. The work, focused on the southeast corner of the downtown loop, is scheduled from Saturday, March 28, through Sunday, March 29, 2026. MoDOT issued a public notice on March 25, 2026, warning motorists to expect potential delays in the area. ## Ongoing Bridge Replacements on U.S. 71 at Bannister Road Further south in Jackson County, a major bridge replacement project continues on U.S. Route 71 over Bannister Road (Route W). This work, which began earlier, is set to impact traffic with ongoing ramp and lane closures on U.S. 71 near Bannister Road until Friday, April 10, 2026. While the existing bridges remain safe for travel, MoDOT stated in its March 25, 2026, announcement that they are nearing the end of their operational service life, necessitating these replacement efforts. ## I-35 Ramp Closure Today; Statewide MoDOT Efforts Underway Adding to today's congestion, the northbound I-35 on-ramp from 12th Street in Kansas City will close for seven hours, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., for graffiti removal. This short-term maintenance, announced by MoDOT on March 25, 2026, is part of the department's ongoing efforts to maintain state infrastructure. MoDOT's work extends beyond Jackson County, with a significant resurfacing project on U.S. Route 71 in Nodaway County also starting today, March 26, 2026. This northern Missouri project, a collaboration between Herzog Contracting Corp. and MoDOT, spans U.S. Route 71 from the Iowa State line south to U.S. Route 136 near Burlington Junction, as detailed in a March 25, 2026, public notice.