Route 291 Improvement Project

The City of Liberty, in partnership with the Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT), has finalized design of a project to improve MO-Route 291 north of Kansas Street. For details on what final improvements are, why they were selected and how the project construction is being funded please see below:

Improvement - Signalization of the intersection of 291 and Blue Jay Dr.

• Why signalize Blue Jay Dr.?
  • In 2023, the City commissioned a study that assessed what measures were appropriate and where they should be implemented. The study found that the intersection has both experienced a 33% traffic volume increase within the last five years and warrants a signal. (Warrants are specific conditions that specify whether a traffic control measure is justified and or needed.) The signalization will serve as an effective means of assigning right-of-way to movements and increasing the traffic handling capacity of the intersection. 

Improvement - Modification of the intersection of 291 and Stewart Rd. to eliminate left turn movements.

• Why eliminate left turn movements? 
  • In 2023 the City commissioned a study that assessed what measures were appropriate and where they should be implemented. When looking at the intersection of 291 and Stewart the study found that: within the last five years there were 62 crashes at the intersection, 27 of which resulted in injury and one which resulted in a fatality. 
    
    To put things into perspective, that is a crash rate more than two times greater than the accepted critical crash rate and seven times higher than the statewide average crash rate. Further analysis identified that the majority of the crashes were left-turn or angle crashes. Faced with this information the City proposed the elimination of left turn movements. This proposal was accepted by MoDOT. 
• Why not just close Stewart?
  • The Liberty Triangle is a thriving commercial center within the City of Liberty. Due to both its unique placement between, I-35, MO-291 and Kansas Street and its limited access points, closing the Stewart intersection was not deemed a viable option.
• Why not put a signal at Stewart?
  • During the first public meeting the City heard requests from citizens to consider placing a signal at Stewart Road. This concept was considered and not deemed safe due to the horizontal and vertical curves on all sides of this intersection, which are neither safe nor conducive factors for the placement of a signalized intersection. 

Improvement - Pedestrian improvements along 291.

• Where to and why?
  • Originally the project scope included minor pedestrian improvements from Blue Jay Drive up to the sidewalk just south of the hotels on the east side of 291. However the City was able to leverage its existing funding to apply for and win state Cost Share funds that will provide for the addition of sidewalk all the way down to Kansas Street This will ensure that pedestrians can safely traverse from the existing sidewalk network along Kansas Street all the way north to the North Havens Center Commercial development. 
• Why is there a segment with no sidewalk along the East side?
  • Budgetary constraints dictated that sidewalk could not be installed along the entire length of MO-291 on both the East and West sides. When determining which sections to leave without sidewalk staff took into consideration suggestions made during the first public meeting and prioritized placement of sidewalk to and from logical pedestrian destinations. 

Who owns and operates MO-291?

• MO-291 is owned and operated by the Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT). As such, all modifications to MO-291 are subject to the final review and approval of MoDOT. For questions or comments on MO-291 please refer to the MoDOT website https://www.modot.org/kansascity

Why not reduce the speed limit on MO-291?

• As MO-291 is owned and operated by MoDOT any reduction/increase in speed must be approved by MoDOT. Prior to approving any reduction/increase the MoDOT process requires a formal speed study, by MoDOT, be conducted. Based on the findings of a formal speed study, conducted in 2020, MoDOT determined to not reduce the speed within the project boundaries. For questions or comments on MO-291 please refer to the MoDOT website https://www.modot.org/kansascity

How is construction being funded?

• The construction is being funded through a combination of City, Federal and State funding sources. Federal and State funding sources were awarded to the City through competitive grant applications and will be provided in the form of reimbursements to the City for constructions costs through the length of the project. The total cost of construction is estimated at $2,000,000. Of this total, $1,800,000will be reimbursed to the City through the Federal and State funding sources. 

When is construction scheduled for?

• The project met its deadline for reopening by October 28, 2025 and is in the punch list phase with only minor items remaining before full acceptance. 

Questions on the project?

• Contact the Capital Projects Engineer via email.