FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: March 15, 2006

Oak Street lane reductions begin Monday

To accommodate the aggressive construction schedule for the Sprint Center, Oak Street will be reduced to two lanes to perform storm sewer and water line construction.

On Monday, March 20 at 9 a.m., concrete barriers will be placed in the two westernmost lanes of Oak Street from Truman Road to 13th Street. This closure will reduce Oak Street to one northbound and one southbound lane. In addition, turn lanes will be kept open for northbound traffic turning left onto 13th Street and for southbound traffic turning left onto Truman Road.

The west side closure of Oak Street is scheduled to last through April. Once complete, the same closure sequence will be replicated on the east side of Oak Street, affecting its two easternmost lanes. This will funnel traffic to the west two lanes of the road, leaving one northbound and one southbound lane open.

This lane reduction will significantly impact rush hour traffic in and out of downtown’s financial and government districts. Drivers are encouraged to use Charlotte Street and Holmes Road as alternate routes during construction.

A full list of downtown street closures is available at the Capital Improvements Management Office’s Web site (www.kcmo.org/cimo).