City leaders in Independence and Kansas City are pursuing a transfer of land that officials say could clear the way to replace a Jackson County bridge that has been closed for more than seven years.
Deannexation could speed repair work
The Kansas City Finance, Governance and Public Safety Committee is scheduled to consider Ordinance No. 260900, which would deannex 0.63 acres that include the north half of a stretch of Kentucky Road and the bridge over Rock Creek. Kansas City’s Planning and Development Department recommended approval of the ordinance, but with conditions.
The bridge was closed in 2019 after inspectors deemed it dangerous; it currently has a hole in the deck and has become a site for dumping and vagrancy, city records show. For Independence, the crossing is important because it provides an access route to the city’s largest sanitary sewer pump station that does not require crossing active railroad tracks.
Railroad tracks that run south along Kentucky Road frequently block access from U.S. 24 in western Independence, making the bridge an important alternative for maintenance crews and emergency responders.
“Efforts to apply for interjurisdictional cooperative agreements to fund the repair of the bridge have been challenging,”
That assessment appears in a KCMO City Plan Commission staff report that recommends the transfer, adding that “both municipalities agreed that a transfer of the entire right-of-way will speed up the process of obtaining funds to fix this bridge.”
Conditions for transfer and next steps
The plan commission attached two conditions to its recommendation. Under those terms, Independence must:
- Annex the property within 60 days.
- Continue to allow KCMO Water Services an easement for a 12-inch water main in the area.
Kansas City originally annexed the property in 1954. If the ordinance is approved and Independence completes the annexation, city officials say the transfer will allow them to pursue funding and begin the replacement process more quickly than continuing interjurisdictional negotiations.
Local infrastructure context
Independence voters approved a property-tax increase in April 2025 earmarked for infrastructure. The city authorized design work about a year ago to replace the Kentucky Road bridge, signaling a commitment to move forward on the project even as negotiations with Kansas City stalled.
City officials and the KCMO plan staff have framed the property transfer as a practical step to remove administrative and funding barriers that have persisted during years of discussion among municipal and county governments.
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Bridge status | Closed since 2019; hole in deck; attracts dumping and vagrancy |
| Land proposed for transfer | 0.63 acres (north half of stretch including bridge) |
| Conditions | Annexation within 60 days; 12-inch water main easement retained |
City leaders will watch the Kansas City committee and plan commission actions closely. If the deannexation ordinance is approved, Independence must act quickly to annex the parcel to keep the timetable intact.
For residents, the change could mean faster progress toward reopening the crossing, improved access for sewer maintenance and emergency crews, and removal of a site that has become a public nuisance. Officials say the transfer is intended to reduce administrative friction and make the project eligible for funding streams that require clear municipal control of the right-of-way.
As the process moves forward, Independence officials will need to balance the technical requirements of bridge design and construction with agreements that protect existing utilities and coordinate with neighboring jurisdictions.
The Finance, Governance and Public Safety Committee will consider the ordinance at its Tuesday meeting. The Independence City Council is expected to act on annexation if the Kansas City move clears its required approvals.
