In 2016, the City of Parkville adopted the Hwy. 9 Corridor Study that included preliminary designs for multi-modal improvements for 12 project segments along the corridor between Hwy. 45 in Parkville and Mattox Road in Riverside.
The first segment of focus for the Hwy. 9 improvements is from Hwy. 45 to Lakeview Drive and the design was completed by George Butler Associates. Construction will begin this month with substantial completion in November. Any final touches will be completed by spring 2022.
Gunter Construction is the general contractor for the project. In 2015, it built the entryway sign on Hwy. 9 east of downtown and the stone markers on Hwy. 9 as you come into downtown from the east. Gunter is currently working on road construction projects on 76th Street in Gladstone and the I-35/Chouteau Trafficway interchange in Kansas City.
A new traffic light will be installed at 63rd Street (adjacent to Sonic) and the signal at Lakeview Drive (west entrance to Riss Lake) will be improved.
The lights will be part of Operation Green Light, a cooperative effort to improve the coordination of traffic signals and incident response on major routes throughout the Kansas City area on both sides of the state line. It will help reduce unnecessary delay, improve traffic flow and reduce emissions that contribute to ozone pollution.
Gunter Construction will do the work in phases:
.Phase 1: Clearing trees and setting up erosion control measures.
.Phase 2: Extending road on west side to allow two-way traffic throughout Phase 3.
.Phase 3: Shifting traffic to west side so work can be completed on east side. The majority of work will take place on east side of road.
Throughout the construction, two goals of the project will be to 1) maintain two-way traffic and 2) provide access to each business along the corridor.
An archaeological consultant has been hired to monitor the construction near the Walnut Grove and Old Parkville cemeteries, in accordance with Historic Preservation standards, to ensure that construction will not impact the cemeteries.
The Missouri Department of Transportation issued a notice to proceed and the contractor will mobilize this week.
The city will provide updates via social media and on the city’s website at parkvillemo.gov/community/road-improvement-projects/.