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Developer: Flying Truss, LLC.
Public Partner: Unified Government of Kansas City, KS
Structural Engineers: Thornton Tomasetti & TranSystems
The Rock Island Bridge is a historic 1905 railroad bridge spanning the Kansas River, connecting Kansas City, Missouri, and Kansas City, Kansas. Originally built to transport livestock for the city's stockyards, the 705-foot-long bridge has been transformed into America's first entertainment district over a river.
The project features two levels with a sit-down restaurant, grab-and-go food options, multiple bars, a 300-person event space, public trails, and various entertainment spaces.
After decades of disuse, the bridge—which remains in excellent structural condition—is officially open for use, offering 35,000 square feet of public space and promising to revitalize the underutilized riverfront area.
The $16 million renovation preserves the bridge's industrial aesthetic while creating a vibrant community space that connects both sides of the Kansas River.
"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."
