Paseo Bridge facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Paseo Bridge |
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Bridge from upriver side on the ASB Bridge in February 2008. Worlds of Fun is in the background.
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| Coordinates | 39°07′22″N 94°33′57″W / 39.12278°N 94.56583°W |
| Carries | 4 lanes of    I-29 / I-35 / US 71 |
| Crosses | Missouri River |
| Locale | Kansas City, Missouri |
| Official name | Paseo Bridge |
| Maintained by | MoDOT |
| ID number | 6674 |
| Characteristics | |
| Design | Suspension |
| Longest span | 616.0 feet |
| History | |
| Opened | August 13, 1954 |
| Closed | November 19, 2010 |
The Paseo Bridge was a suspension bridge that crossed the Missouri River in Kansas City, Missouri. It was a very important bridge for many years.
Before a new bridge took its place, the Paseo Bridge carried major highways. These included Interstates 29 and 35, and U.S. Route 71. The bridge was named after The Paseo, a well-known boulevard. This boulevard connected directly to the bridge on the south side.
Bridge History
The Paseo Bridge was built in 1954. It was later repaired and updated in 1984 and again in 2005. Before it was retired, about 95,000 cars and trucks crossed the bridge every day. This made it the busiest bridge in Kansas City.
The Paseo Bridge was also the main way to get between downtown Kansas City and the "Northland" area. The Northland is the part of Kansas City located north of the Missouri River.
When it was built, the Paseo Bridge was special. It was the longest "self-anchored suspension bridge" in the world. This means its main cables were attached to the bridge deck itself, not to the ground. Only a few bridges like this existed.
A New Bridge Takes Over
The MoDOT decided to replace the Paseo Bridge. They built a new bridge called the Christopher S. Bond Bridge. Construction on the new bridge started in April 2008. It was finished several months earlier than planned.
The Paseo Bridge stayed open to traffic while the new Bond Bridge was being built. Cars slowly started using the new bridge more and more. Eventually, all lanes of the new Bond Bridge were open.
Vehicle traffic stopped completely on the Paseo Bridge on November 19, 2010. Demolition work to take down the old bridge began soon after that.
