Project Area

About the Project

Westport is one of the oldest neighborhoods in Kansas City, Missouri. With development dating back to the 1800s, most of the area is covered with pavement and buildings today. Mill Street, historically known as Mill Creek, has a combined sewer system which is undersized and overcapacity. Roads and buildings obstruct the natural overland drainage path resulting in significant flooding events that have caused repeated damage and loss to business owners, residents, and visitors of Westport. KC Water initiated the $30M Westport Stormwater Improvements Project to pursue feasible solutions to flood events.

Approach

Numerous stormwater studies have been performed to document Westport’s flooding problems, resulting in solutions that were held to a traditional stormwater design standard and were neither affordable nor constructable within this highly developed and utilized area of the city. The Westport Stormwater Improvements Project is a first-of-its-kind, progressive design-build project. The project team approached this effort using available rainfall data for recent events and targeted improvements that would alleviate observed flooding conditions.

Infrastructure Improvements

Westport Stormwater Improvements

Underground structures will add 3.5 million gallons of stormwater storage at the Mill Street Station parking lot and Dr. Jeremiah Cameron Park. Increasing the underground water storage capacity will help mitigate frequent flooding issues in Westport. Stormwater improvements also include a new dedicated storm sewer in Mill Street and Westport Road, as well as roadside green stormwater infrastructure to improve drainage and reduce burden on the existing combined sewer system. The City is investing in other public improvements in the area to maximize the investment and avoid future disturbance needs to replace aging infrastructure which include: 

  • Waterline Replacements: Some of the waterlines in the area date back to the early 1900s. The project is replacing waterlines within the areas of disturbance.

  • Sewer Rehabilitation: The existing combined sewer system has been serving this area for more than a century. Segments of the sewer system that need repair and replacement are also included with the project.  

  • Street Pavement: There are storm sewer improvements that extend outside of the Mill Street Corridor where full streetscaping is proposed. These areas will receive a full mill and overlay along with other sidewalk repairs and improvements.  

  • Streetscape Improvements: Mill Street will be safer and more accessible for cyclists, drivers and pedestrians. The project includes building sidewalks, permeable parking stalls, and a raised intersection at Mill Street and Westport Road to help with traffic calming in the entertainment district. 

  • Dr. Jeremiah Cameron Park: The park is playing a critical role in stormwater management as the final water storage point to manage discharge before reentering the existing combined sewer system. The improvements to the park include: a pedestrian path from 43rd Street to Mill Street through the park, native trees and landscaping, gateway walls and staircase, a dedicated space for future artwork and other park amenities in partnership with the Steptoe Lives Coalition.

Proposal for Dr. Jeremiah Cameron Park in Westport