With big events in Kansas City on the horizon, city and state renew effort to cleanup graffiti

MoDOT workers are focusing their attention on interstate highway signs, bridges, and overpasses in the downtown area.

MoDOT workers are focusing their attention on interstate highway signs, bridges, and overpasses in the downtown area.

OF SCOURED HIS PROPERTY IN SEARCH OF CLASSIFIED DOCUMENTS. KRIS: THERE’S A RENEWED EFFORT TO CLEAN UP KANSAS CITY BEFORE FOR UPCOMING EVENTS. KELLY: THAT INCLUDES A BASKETBALL REGIONAL IN MARCH AND THE NFL DRAFT IN APRIL. GRAFFITI IS BEING TARGETED. >> WE ARE NEAR THE WALNUT STREET I 70 OVERPASS AND THE RIVER MARKET AREA. TAKE A LOOK BEHIND ME. YOU CAN SEE HIGHWAY SIGNS BADLY DEFACED WITH GRAFFITI AND MAKING THEM HARD TO READ. HIGHWAY SIGNS ARE A HASSLE FOR THE MISSOURI DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION. UNLIKE MOST GRAFFITI WHICH CAN BE WASHED AWAY, SIGNS HAVE TO BE REPLACED. IT ALSO TYPICALLY MEANS RAMP CLOSURES TO PROVIDE A SAFE SPACE FOR WORKERS. TO HAVE AS LITTLE IMPACT ON TRAFFIC, THEY USUALLY DO THE WORK ON WEEKENDS. REGARDLESS OF WHEN THEY DO IT, IT IS EXPENSIVE AND LABOR-INTENSIVE. >> WHEN WE HAVE TO ADDRESS THE GRAFFITI, IT TAKES FOLKS AWAY FROM OTHER PRIORITY ITEMS. MAINTAINING OUR SIGNS, LIGHTING, PAVEMENT. ADDRESSING GRAFFITI TAKES THAT AWAY. >> IN ADDITION TO CLEANING UP GRAFFITI, THEIR EFFORTS HAVE ALSO INCLUDED PICKING UP TRASH. WE ARE TOLD FROM THIS PAST JUNE TO THE END OF 2022 ALONG A 40 MILE STRETCH OF URBAN HIGHWAY IN KANSAS CITY, WORKERS PICKED UP 73 TONS OF GARBAGE. 11,000 BAGS. KRIS: 73 TONS. MODOT IS PARTNERING WITH THE POLICE TO STOP NEW GRAFFIT

With big events in Kansas City on the horizon, city and state renew effort to cleanup graffiti

MoDOT workers are focusing their attention on interstate highway signs, bridges, and overpasses in the downtown area.

There’s a renewed effort to clean up graffiti in the downtown Kansas City area in advance of several major events.The Big 12 Men’s Basketball Tournament and NCAA Men’s Basketball Regional will be held in March and the NFL draft will take place in town in April.Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT) workers are focusing their attention on interstate highway signs, bridges, and overpasses in the downtown area.“We’re working hard to clean up our great city ahead of these events and graffiti removal is one of the things we’re focusing on,” said Matt Killion, MoDOT Assistant District Engineer.Graffiti on most surfaces can be washed away or painted over, but highway signs like the badly defaced ones on the I-70 Walnut Street overpass must be replaced at taxpayer expense.“And that’s a significant cost to get in there and do that, especially when it’s an overhead sign,” Killion said.That work is also typically done on weekends when traffic is light because the sign replacement and graffiti removal typically involves lane and ramp closures.Killion also said removing graffiti is an ongoing battle.“Oftentimes, we’ll cover up some graffiti, remove some graffiti and it will appear the next day,” he said.MoDOT workers also picked up trash along the highways in the urban part of Kansas City.From last June until the end of 2022, MoDOT reports picking up 73 tons of garbage along a 40 mile stretch of highway or about 11,000 bags.MoDOT is also partnering with the Kansas City Police Department to stop new graffiti and is asking for the public’s help.Anyone spotting someone defacing public property with graffiti is asked to call KCPD at (816)-234-5111.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. —

There’s a renewed effort to clean up graffiti in the downtown Kansas City area in advance of several major events.

The Big 12 Men’s Basketball Tournament and NCAA Men’s Basketball Regional will be held in March and the NFL draft will take place in town in April.

Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT) workers are focusing their attention on interstate highway signs, bridges, and overpasses in the downtown area.

“We’re working hard to clean up our great city ahead of these events and graffiti removal is one of the things we’re focusing on,” said Matt Killion, MoDOT Assistant District Engineer.

Graffiti on most surfaces can be washed away or painted over, but highway signs like the badly defaced ones on the I-70 Walnut Street overpass must be replaced at taxpayer expense.

“And that’s a significant cost to get in there and do that, especially when it’s an overhead sign,” Killion said.

That work is also typically done on weekends when traffic is light because the sign replacement and graffiti removal typically involves lane and ramp closures.

Killion also said removing graffiti is an ongoing battle.

“Oftentimes, we’ll cover up some graffiti, remove some graffiti and it will appear the next day,” he said.

MoDOT workers also picked up trash along the highways in the urban part of Kansas City.

From last June until the end of 2022, MoDOT reports picking up 73 tons of garbage along a 40 mile stretch of highway or about 11,000 bags.

MoDOT is also partnering with the Kansas City Police Department to stop new graffiti and is asking for the public’s help.

Anyone spotting someone defacing public property with graffiti is asked to call KCPD at (816)-234-5111.

With big events in Kansas City on the horizon, city and state renew effort to cleanup graffiti

MoDOT workers are focusing their attention on interstate highway signs, bridges, and overpasses in the downtown area.

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