Regional leaders cut ribbon on $16.8 million Lee Summit Road safety and mobility project

Kansas City Mayor Pro Tem and Fifth District Councilwoman Raina Park Shaw joined leaders from Lee Summit and Independence to cut the ribbon on a rebuilt segment of Lee Summit Road, a $16.8 million investment that officials said improves safety and regional connectivity.

"It is such an honor to be here today to open this road that is now more safe for everyone whether it's pedestrians or drivers or bikers," Mayor Pro Tem Raina Park Shaw said, recounting past emergency-room experiences and saying the corridor previously caused serious injuries and deaths for some road users. She thanked Kansas City Public Works, the water department, utility partners and construction crews for completing the project, and noted the next segment of the corridor is under design.

The ceremony included remarks from Jeff Martin, assistant city manager over infrastructure for Kansas City, who credited community input and a multi-agency effort for the work. Martin named the design and construction partners involved and said the project includes a shared-use path, sidewalks, bike lanes and improvements that reduce hills and curves. He also said the corridor carries important water transmission infrastructure that feeds Lee Summit and required close coordination with the water department during construction.

"What we have here today is really a culmination of a lot of hard work by a lot of parties," Martin said, naming public-works staff and contractors who handled the design and construction oversight.

Lee Summit Mayor Lopez praised Park Shaw's role getting the project moving and highlighted the public-safety and neighborhood benefits from diverting traffic away from residential streets. "This is the kind of stuff that happens in other parts of the Kansas City area and for us to have accomplished this with multiple jurisdictions is something that we should be very proud of," he said.

Independence Mayor Kevin King commented that Lee Summit Road "started in Independence" and said the corridor will support economic development across the three cities, thanking residents and staff for their involvement.

Officials opened the floor for questions; none were asked. Park Shaw then invited Amy Banell and Nick Bosanto forward, thanked them for their persistence on the project and led a ceremonial countdown before cutting the ribbon.

City officials said the work completed here is one portion of a longer corridor; the city has the next segment under design and will advance it once the design is finished. The ceremony did not include any votes or formal actions; it was a ceremonial opening and acknowledgement of staff, partners and community contributions.