East Twenty-third Street Viaduct, Spanning Big Blue River at Manchester Trafficway, Kansas City, Jackson County, MO

Significance: The 23rd Street Viaduct is significant in the areas of Politics/Government and Community Planning and Development. The steel girder structure is an existing example of the 1935 civic improvement plan which allowed a direct link between eastern Kansas City and Independence, Missouri. The viaduct also demonstrates the use of Work Projects Administration (WPA) workers directed by city employees in partnership with the bridge contractors to construct this massive, 1,632-foot bridge. Furthermore, it prompted additional development of the Blue River Valley for industrial use. Today the viaduct is distinguished as one of the longest span steel girder bridges in Missouri.
Survey number: HAER MO-102
Building/structure dates: 1936-1938 Initial Construction