12th Street Viaduct

At the opening of the 12th Street Viaduct March 18, 1915, a story in the Star reported: A municipal dream of years was realized this morning. The 12th Street Viaduct was opened to traffic. It was still dark at 5:30 o'clock when the first car was routed over the massive new bridge. There had been a number of requests from motormen who had served as gripmen on the old cable line to run the first car over the new structure. The company officials disliked the task of choosing and decided to route the cars according to schedule. The first car, slowly feeling its way from the bluff, entered upon the new rails of the big double decker, gained speed and soon was at the curve at Liberty Street in the West Bottoms. A number of passengers over the viaduct today are sightseers. As the morning grew older, the patronage from this source increased and window seats were in demand. The viaduct has only one grade, extending from the bluff to Liberty Street, and eclipsing the old viaduct in length by nearly three blocks. It is of re-enforced concrete construction and was built by the Graff Construction Co. at a cost to the city of approximately $650,000. Proceedings for the structure and traffic way began in 1909. The length of the upper deck was 2,278 feet, length of lower deck 1,884 feet and highest point 118 feet. Width of the roadway was 30 feet. The viaduct is still in use today. Kansas City Star, January 29, 1977.