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Independence updates geobond spending plan: $55 million passed; bridges pose delivery risk
Summary
City staff reported progress on the $55 million geobond program, including bridge replacements, sidewalks-to-school projects and a five-year overlay program; the city said bridge delivery risks — Union Pacific requirements and a thin local contractor market — are the program's biggest challenge.
City Engineer Alex Lopez updated the council July 13 on the city's geobond program, which voters approved last April as a $55 million infrastructure package. Lopez detailed allocations, current projects and program risks before answering council questions.
Funding breakdown and current work: Lopez said the geobond allocates about $15 million for bridge projects, $10 million for sidewalks and $30 million for street overlays. Two bridge projects (East Kentucky Road bridge and Christopher Avenue bridge) have been bundled into a single construction contract; the Kentucky Road bridge contract is underway with an estimated cost just north of $1,000,000 and the Christopher Avenue job is forecast at roughly $2.5 million but is still contingent on Union Pacific Railroad approvals and contractor availability.
Sidewalks-to-school: The city is delivering school-sidewalk projects via design-build to accelerate schedules. The current bundle (Mill Creek and Castle Park) began construction on Mill Creek in June with an estimated cost of $850,000 and Castle Park is scheduled to start mid-August (estimated $1,900,000). Lopez said the city coordinated priorities with the Fort Osage and Independence school districts.
Overlay program and tracking: Lopez described a five-year overlay program funded at about $6 million per year. The FY26 overlay contractor is working roughly 53 lane miles with an estimated project cost of $6,270,000; the city established a separate fund (Fund 54) to track geobond expenditures separately from other street sales-tax capital projects.
Delivery risk and next steps: Lopez told council members the program's most significant concern is bridge delivery because of Union Pacific's requirements and a small pool of bridge contractors. "My greatest concern with the Geobond would be the delivery of the bridge projects," he said. He encouraged bundling bridges to improve contractor interest and noted project teams are working to complete designs (top five bridges expected to reach design completion by winter 2027) and to advertise additional bridge bundles for future construction seasons. The city also said it will publish resurfacing plans on the city website to keep residents informed.
