2025 Midwest Best Projects
Award of Merit, Highway/Bridge: US-169 Buck O'Neil Bridge Project
US-169 Buck O’Neil Bridge Project
Kansas City, Mo.
Award of Merit
Submitted by Massman Construction
Owner: Missouri Dept. of Transportation
Lead Design Firm: HNTB
General Contractor: Massman-Clarkson, A Joint Venture
Composed of twin span girder bridges, the $219-million Buck O’Neil Bridge replaced a functionally obsolete structure that was first built in 1956, providing a vital pathway in and out of downtown Kansas City.
The new three-mile-long bridge extends over the Missouri River, and more than 50,000 vehicles a day now use these crossings, which enhance local and regional connectivity and improve traffic safety and efficiency.
To avoid impacts to the railroad that runs on the north side of the river, the project team redesigned a right-hand airport exit as a left-hand exit with a full deceleration lane, eliminating a proposed 200-ft retaining wall adjacent to the BNSF rail.
A strict mass concrete specification increased the bridge substructure’s long-term durability but required constant temperature monitoring throughout the curing process to safeguard against thermal cracking. The team also optimized the river bridge plate girders to suit the contractor’s marine construction capabilities and to minimize extraneous material and field assembly.
