Work began the first week of March at the Main Street Sewer Rehabilitation project near Richard L. Berkley Park along the Missouri River.  This is the first of more than 70 projects on the Capital Improvements Management Office (CIMO) priority list to begin construction. 

A groundbreaking event to recognize the project was held on Friday, March 26 at 10 a.m. at the project site (view official invitation and map here). 

Mayor Kay Barnes and City Manager Wayne Cauthen spoke at the groundbreaking about the recent progress the city is making toward getting capital improvement projects completed.

This sewer project is special for a few reasons. Aside from it being the first of several projects on the CIMO high priority list that will break ground in the coming months, it is an emergency project set to be completed in time for the Lewis and Clark Bicentennial Commemoration planned for July 3-4 at Berkley Park.

This project is necessary due to an earth slide on the riverbank that damaged an 84-inch sewer and outfall structure. As a result, the riverbank continues to slide into the river and is causing imminent danger to surrounding infrastructure. The city’s project will replace the existing sewer, and stabilize and rebuild the riverbank.

In preparation for the Lewis and Clark commemoration, other improvements to the riverfront area will follow the completion of the Main Street Stormwater Sewer project. The Kansas City Port Authority has proposed the addition of a 10-foot wall to facilitate an extension of the Heritage Park Trail to the west to connect Berkley Park to the City Market.