A bridge in Kansas is being compared to The High Line in NYC
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Bridging the past and the present. Photo: Travis Meier/Axios
A decommissioned railroad bridge over the Kansas River is being transformed in a way that "feels very similar" to New York City's High Line, Friends of the High Line executive director Alan van Capelle tells Axios.
Why it matters: The one-of-a-kind project in Kansas City has garnered local and national support for its ambition and design, and could provide a blueprint for future transformational projects.
The big picture: The Rock Island Bridge entertainment district is set to open April 1 after nearly a decade of planning and construction, with stakeholders aiming to connect the region and revive a long-neglected stretch of river.
Zoom in: The bridge is a restaurant, beer garden, event space, community park and trailhead all retrofitted into a 121-year-old river crossing 60 feet above the water.
- Crews spent years converting 1,200 tons of blighted steel into a covered, double-decker venue that's wider, taller and more complex than originally planned.
- Van Capelle says it makes him think of the High Line because "nobody thought it would happen."
Michael Zeller, founder of the bridge project, says what started in 2008 as a crazy idea eventually got the backing of city and state officials, community and business leaders, capital funding, and some of the city's biggest philanthropists.
- He first leased the bridge in 2018, and construction finally began in 2023.
What they're saying: "They have really pulled together so many diverse resources for the project," van Capelle tells Axios, adding that he wants to see "if it could be replicated in other parts of the country."
- The High Line Network helped Zeller secure funding by advocating for the bridge.
- "It's going to have the same effect as the High Line, which helped sort of jump start the west side of Manhattan," in revitalizing the Kansas riverfront.
Between the lines: The bridge is in Kansas, although Missourians will have easier access; the west bank of the bridge remains inaccessible as the Unified Government (UG) works on connecting it to the levee trail.
- Other than I-670, the nearest roadway connections from KCK into the West Bottoms are closed for repair.
Edgar Galicia, who directs the Central Avenue Betterment Association, says the bridge will help spark trail development, adding connectivity and providing a gathering place for residents.
- Congress earlier this month gave the UG roughly $2 million to connect 17 miles of the KCK Levee Trail System.
If you go: Parking is available by the bridge or in the West Bottoms Garage to the north ($5).
- The bridge opens 11am on April 1 and 8am every day after, with closing times ranging from 10pm to midnight.
What we're watching: Zeller says the bridge opening is just the beginning, with plans to host boat races and build water access.
- The UG plans to open the bridge's west side in late summer and complete the levee trails by spring 2027.
The bottom line: "Kansas City will never have a mountain or an ocean, but we've got two big rivers," he says, adding that standing over the water "is a pretty sweet place to be."