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[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 227 (Monday, November 25, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 92995-92996]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-27482]

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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Highway Administration

[Docket No. FHWA-2024-0067]

Emergency Temporary Closure of Eastbound Traffic on the National 
Network for the Lewis and Clark Viaduct Bridge in Kansas City, Kansas 
and Kansas City, Missouri

AGENCY: Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), U.S. Department of 
Transportation (DOT).

ACTION: Notice; request for comments.

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SUMMARY: The Kansas Department of Transportation (KDOT) closed for 
repairs the eastbound portion of Interstate 70 (I-70) on the Lewis and 
Clark Viaduct Bridge over the Kansas River on September 5, 2024. 
Closure of the bridge and detour routes extend from Kansas City, 
Kansas, into Kansas City, Missouri.
    The FHWA is providing notice that KDOT is continuing the temporary 
closure of the Lewis and Clark Viaduct Bridge in the eastbound 
direction until the bridge can be repaired, which is estimated to be by 
the end of December 2024. The FHWA is requesting comments from the 
public on the alternate routes selected by KDOT and the Missouri 
Department of Transportation (MoDOT) due to the closure.

DATES: Comments must be received on or before December 26, 2024.

ADDRESSES: To ensure that you do not duplicate your docket submissions, 
please submit them by only one of the following means:
     Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to www.regulations.gov and 
follow the

[[Page 92996]]

online instructions for submitting comments.
     Mail: U.S. Department of Transportation, Docket 
Operations, M-30, West Building Ground Floor, 1200 New Jersey Avenue 
SE, Room W12-140, Washington, DC 20590.
     Hand Delivery or Courier: U.S. Department of 
Transportation, Docket Operations, West Building Ground Floor, Room 
W12-140, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, Washington, DC, between 9:00 a.m. 
and 5:00 p.m. ET, except Federal holidays.
    Instructions: You must include the agency name and docket number 
[FHWA-2024-0067] at the beginning of your comments. All comments 
received will be posted without change to www.regulations.gov, 
including any personal information provided.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Michael Latuszek, Office of Freight 
Management and Operations, FHWA Office of Operations, (573) 616-0415, 
[email protected]; William Winne, Office of the Chief Counsel, 
(202) 366-0791, [email protected], Federal Highway Administration, 
1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, Washington, DC 20590; or Richard Backlund, 
FHWA Kansas Division, (785) 273-2626, [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Electronic Access and Filing

    This document and all comments received may be viewed online 
through the Federal eRulemaking portal at www.regulations.gov. The 
website is available 24 hours each day, 365 days each year. An 
electronic copy of this document may also be downloaded by accessing 
the Office of the Federal Register's website at www.federalregister.gov 
and the U.S. Government Publishing Office's website at www.govinfo.gov.

Background

    The KDOT closed a portion of I-70 in the eastbound direction on the 
Lewis and Clark Viaduct Bridge over the Kansas River for repairs on 
September 5, 2024. The FHWA is providing notice that KDOT is continuing 
the temporary closure until the damaged bridge can be repaired. The 
estimated time for completion of the repair is the end of calendar year 
2024. The FHWA is requesting comments from the public on the alternate 
routes selected by KDOT and MoDOT due to the closure.
    The FHWA is responsible for enforcing the Federal regulations 
applicable to the National Network (NN) of highways that can safely and 
efficiently accommodate the large vehicles authorized by provisions of 
the Surface Transportation Assistance Act of 1982, Public Law 97-424 as 
amended, designated in accordance with title 23 of the Code of Federal 
Regulations (CFR) Part 658 (Truck Size and Weight, Route Designations--
Length, Width and Weight Limitations) and listed in Appendix A to Part 
658. Under 23 CFR 658.11 (Additions, deletions, exceptions, and 
restrictions), FHWA may approve deletions of, or use restrictions on, 
the Interstate system or other NN routes based upon specified 
justification criteria in section 658.11(d)(2). The FHWA is authorized 
to delete any route from the NN on an emergency basis, based on safety 
considerations pursuant to Sec.  658.11(e), which also requires 
publishing this Notice in the Federal Register for comment.
    As part of a recent bridge inspection, KDOT inspectors identified 
concerns with gusset plates on the eastbound portion of this I-70 
bridge. Gusset plates are used to connect truss members of a bridge. 
Gusset plates can be fastened to a permanent truss member by bolts, 
rivets, or welding, or a combination of the three. Based on the 
inspection findings, KDOT engineers determined that repairs were needed 
and closed the eastbound portion of the bridge on September 5, 2024, to 
vehicles and pedestrians until the repairs are completed.
    The Lewis and Clark Viaduct is a series of bridges comprising an 
interchange with I-70, Minnesota Avenue, Washington Boulevard, and the 
Fairfax Trafficway in Kansas City, Kansas.
    The recommended detours have evolved since the closure of the 
eastbound I-70 Lewis and Clark Viaduct Bridge and traffic on I-70 is 
being rerouted as follows:
    All eastbound I-70 on-ramps in downtown Kansas City, Kansas, are 
closed including Minnesota Avenue/4th Street, Washington Boulevard, and 
the Fairfax Trafficway. Eastbound I-70 traffic is being rerouted to 
eastbound I-670. The signed detour begins on eastbound I-70 after the 
18th Street Expressway (US-69) and before the I-70/I-670 split. Drivers 
continuing on eastbound I-70 after the I-670 split can access downtown 
Kansas City, Kansas, at 7th Street, Pacific Avenue, Central Avenue, 5th 
Street or James Street/3rd Street. Drivers exiting downtown Kansas 
City, Kansas can access eastbound I-70 via the 18th Street corridor and 
use the I-670 detour; directly access I-670 via the Central Avenue 
connection; or cross the Kansas River at James Street to access Kansas 
City, Missouri.
    The I-70 westbound offramp at Central Avenue is also closed. The 
decision to close this access point was based on discussions between 
KDOT and the Unified Government of Wyandotte County and Kansas City, 
Kansas.
    Several area Kansas River crossings are currently closed including 
Central Avenue (local), Kansas Avenue/Avenida Cesar E. Chavez (local), 
K-5 (KDOT, southbound lanes closed) over the Union Pacific Railroad, 
and the Buck O'Neil Bridge (US-169, MoDOT).
    The closure of eastbound I-70 reduces access to the Fairfax 
Industrial District, however, there are several detour routes that 
provide alternative ingress/egress options for the area, including the 
Fairfax Bridge (US-69), which allows freight traffic to access several 
interstate highway corridors. The Fairfax Trafficway provides access to 
westbound I-70 and eastbound I-670 via Central Avenue and Kansas City, 
Missouri, by way of James Street.
    Detour messages are being provided on overhead dynamic message 
boards; portable message boards have also been strategically deployed 
throughout the area. The status of road closures and detours has been 
further disseminated via traveler information systems (i.e. KanDrive, 
KC Scout).
    The KDOT and MoDOT are utilizing social media platforms such as 
Facebook (@NEKansasKDOT) and X (@KansasCityKDOT), along with periodic 
media releases to keep the public informed in real-time.
    Authority: 23 U.S.C. 127 and 315; 49 U.S.C. 31111, 31112, and 
31114; 23 CFR part 658.

Kristin R. White,
Acting Administrator, Federal Highway Administration.
[FR Doc. 2024-27482 Filed 11-22-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-22-P
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