KC's ‘Truck Eating Bridge’ strikes again; but fewer crashes after safety improvements KCTV5 2-3-2026

Описание: Kansas City's KCTV 5 News interviews the Director of Operations with the Independence Avenue Community Improvment District (CID), Mike Sapdy, and Mike Elder, a mural artist who worked on the world-famous Truck Eating Bridge. According to Crispin Rea, 4th District at-Large Councilman, “It’s been a source of entertainment for some; a source of frustration for others."

The Northeast Kansas City Chamber of Commerce worked with the city to make the area more visible through an $18,000 grant project that funded murals painted by five artists last year. Furthermore, the city installed "warning-curtains" as part of a $200,000 project in 2024 to warn all drivers about the low clearance. “This curtain system has reduced, by about seventy percent, the accidents that we’ve had at that bridge,” Councilman Rea said.

Police report 54 total crashes since 2020, but incidents have declined following the city installation of a truck intervention device. The bridge, which has a 12-foot clearance and its own Facebook page, has been a problem for more than a century, said Mike Spady. “It’s undefeated against trucks so far said muralist ,” said Mike Elder.

City leaders said they want to do more with the area, but the railroad owns the bridge, limiting infrastructure changes. However, the railroad has been open to city ideas. The Northeast KC Chamber plans to continue monitoring the area and is working with the city to secure funding for lighting underneath and on the bridge to improve visibility.

Courtesy KCTV 5 News.