Rock Island Bridge (Kansas City, Kansas)
The Rock Island Bridge is a rail crossing of the Kansas River. It connects the Armourdale neighborhood to West Bottoms, all within Kansas City, Kansas. It is a truss bridge that is closed to traffic.
Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific Bridge | |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 39°05′28″N 94°36′31″W / 39.0911°N 94.6087°W |
| Carries | formerly 1 track of Rock Island railroad |
| Crosses | Kansas River |
| Locale | Kansas City, Kansas |
| Official name | Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Railroad Bridge |
| Maintained by | Rock Island Railroad (until closed in 1972) |
| Characteristics | |
| Design | Through truss |
| History | |
| Opened | 1905 |
| Closed | 1972 |
| Location | |
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It was built in 1905. It has two main spans and a smaller one on the east side. It also has a screw-jack lifting system to allow the bridge to be lifted during floods. It was used until 1972, when the Kansas City Stockyards closed, Kemper Arena was built right in the path of the tracks, and Rock Island abandoned the line to the bridge later that year. The bridge's rails were cut off at each end and a levee for the Kansas River was built at the east end. It no longer carries railcars, but just carries electrical wires in a rack.
As of September 21, 2021, Flying Truss, LLC leased the Rock Island Bridge from the Unified Government of Wyandotte County, Kansas. The company plans a dining and entertainment venue, and a Community Zone to activate the river and bike trails.