Lee's Summit leaders outline road projects, library access fix and limits of state-owned interchanges

At the April 3 town hall, city staff and council members provided timelines and explanations for several road- and access-related projects that affect the north part of Lee's Summit and the library site near Colburn Road.

Library access and Colburn interchange: City staff said the developer-controlled sequencing of roadway improvements delayed expected access changes to the Colburn-area library driveway. Planning staff said completion of a short-term driveway relocation and restoration of access should take about three weeks after required easements are recorded; the full traffic-signal installation and related work will be completed later as part of the developer's traffic improvements.

"Once these easements are in place...About 3 weeks from when we get the easements in place," planning staff said when asked about the driveway work. Staff explained the city approved the improvements during the development review process but that the developer controls construction sequencing and easement timing.

State jurisdiction and I‑470 priorities: Officials emphasized that parts of the corridors and interchanges — including ramp and bridge structures and signals — are under Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT) jurisdiction. Mayor Pro Tem Betha Lopez and staff said the city is actively lobbying state and federal representatives for I‑470 corridor improvements but noted city authority is limited where the state owns the infrastructure. "Everything under their highways is MoDOT's infrastructure," a staff member said.

Lakewood Way and other city projects: The council said Lakewood Way improvements and other capital projects are on the city's capital improvement list with phased timelines; officials cited federal funding secured for a 2028 segment and said the city will add turn lanes, sidewalks, shared-use paths and lighting in prioritized phases.