Reconfiguration of I-459 South ramp at US 280 put out for bid

A sometimes unpopular and difficult to navigate intersection will start to look a little different. 

The ramp from Interstate 459 South to U.S. 280 currently merges traffic from both directions of I-459, with those drivers having to weave across each other.

“The merge to the left is the problem today,” said Linda Crockett, ALDOT public information officer for the East Central region. She added that traffic on I-459 S will merge onto the northbound ramp and weave across traffic to go to U.S. 280 eastbound, and they will have to cross traffic trying to go the opposite direction on U.S. 280. “Most people who drive this ramp regularly know exactly where these cars weave across each other to get into the correct lane.”

A project to construct a new ramp, ceasing the need for the weave, was put out for bids Sept. 29. The contract time would be 180 working days, according to the posting on ALDOT’s website, and Crockett said it is estimated to cost about $4 million.

“This project will fix the weave problem,” Crockett said. “After construction, when a vehicle exits I-459 northbound to go to U.S. 280, they will be able to either take a ramp going specifically to the signal where they can turn left toward The Summit or stay on the existing ramp and only be able to go east toward Grandview Hospital.”

I-459 N drivers hoping to turn left will take a new ramp along I-459, under the existing bridge from I-459 S and back toward the traffic light. Traffic from I-459 S would continue along its usual ramp and merge with traffic turning right off of I-459 N.

“They will merge into other traffic that is heading in the same direction,” Crockett said.

There is no set timeline for the project.