Governor Kelly Breaks Ground on Rock Island Railroad Bridge Project in Kansas City

~The Nation’s First Entertainment District on a Bridge will Feature Restaurants, Shops, Bars and More~

TOPEKA – Governor Laura Kelly today joined Kansas City, Kansas government officials for a groundbreaking celebration marking the beginning of construction on redevelopment of the Rock Island Bridge.

The Rock Island Bridge in Kansas City, Kansas is a rail crossing of the Kansas River that connects Armourdale, Kansas to West Bottoms in Kansas City, Missouri.

The redevelopment project will build the nation’s first entertainment district on a bridge and will transform the Kansas Waterfront by adding shops and restaurants overlooking the river, with a pedestrian path connecting to trails on both sides of the river.

“From its historic roots as a regional driver of commerce to this new revival as an entertainment space, the Rock Island Bridge represents the best of Kansas,” Governor Laura Kelly said. “I look forward to this new attraction that will boost tourism and create more good-paying jobs, encouraging more young people to build their futures in our state.”

This event follows a recent announcement by the Kansas Department of Commerce awarding the Rock Island Bridge project a $4 million BASE grant.

“The Rock Island Bridge not only will be a stunning entryway to our great state,” Lieutenant Governor and Secretary of Commerce David Toland said, “but will be a signature addition to the growing Kansas tourism sector.”

The project is expected to be completed in Spring of 2024 and a new website with details can be found here.

Photos from the groundbreaking for media use are available here:

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