Rock Island Bridge

Rendering of Rock Island Bridge spanning over the Kansas River. Rendering by Estudio A2T.

Rendering of the Rock Island Bridge central truss. Rendering by Estudio A2T.

Rendering of the central truss's Top Deck event space. Rendering by Estudio A2T.

Rendering of the lower deck Entertainment District bar and dining. Rendering by Estudio A2T.

America’s first entertainment district over a river – 40 feet above the water.

Completed in 1905 as a vital artery of railway transportation, the Rock Island Bridge had been vacant since the 1970s. Connecting Kansas City across the Kansas-Missouri state line, the structure is being repurposed and transformed into America’s first trailhead and entertainment district over a river.

High Line Network

The Rock Island Bridge is a proud member of the esteemed High Line Network, a high honor as it attains recognition as an infrastructure reuse project. Not only does the project salvage 1,200 tons of blighted steel, but this affiliation underscores its commitment to fostering vibrant public spaces, civic connections, promoting environmental resilience, and championing equitable community development.

Learn more about this project and keep up with the latest updates by visiting rockislandkc.com.

Bridging the rivers helped build the early Kansas City economy. But in the process, the railroad tracks cut us off from our waterfronts. This project reconnects us to the water. Daniel Serda Local Initiatives Support Corporation