Will the proposed pedestrian bridge over Rock Road cost $18 million?

The proposed pedestrian bridge over Rock Road is projected to cost around $5.5 million. This includes $3.5 million for the bridge and $2 million for the supporting walls. 

The reference of $18 million refers to the prospective budget of two phases of the Redbud Trail improvement. As Gary Janzen, Director of Public Works clarified though, there is a difference between “costs versus budget.” 

Phase 1 of the Redbud Trail has an estimated cost of a little over $5 million according to City Engineer Paul Gunzelman. This includes repaving of the trail from Woodlawn to K-96 and installation of HAWK crosswalks at Woodlawn, Greenwich, and Webb. 

Phase 2 includes the bridge over Rock Road and several related designs: $150,000 for landscaping, $300,000 for paving, $900,000 for Evergy to move electric lines, etc. The estimated cost for the Phase 2 project is $9.375 million.

Design artist Ed Carpenter of Portland, Oregon, created this rendering of the Redbud Trail pedestrian bridge over Rock Road. Credit: Ed Carpenter