There is a renewed effort to clean up graffiti in the Kansas City downtown area in advance of several major events. The Big 12 Men’s Basketball Tournament and NCAA Men’s Basketball Regional will take place in March and the NFL draft will take place in the city in April. Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT) workers are focusing their attention on interstate road signs, bridges and overpasses in the downtown area. “We are working hard to clean up our great city ahead of these events and graffiti removal is one thing graffiti on most surfaces can be washed off or painted over but highway signs like the badly defaced ones on the I-overpass 70 Walnut Street needs to be replaced at taxpayer expense.”And that’s a significant cost to go in and do that, especially when it’s an overhead sign,” Killion said.This work is also typically done on weekends when traffic it is scarce because signal replacement and graffiti removal iti typically involves closing lanes and ramps.Killion also said that graffiti removal is an ongoing battle along the highways in urban Kansas City. last June through the end of 2022, MoDOT reports that it collected 73 tons of waste along a 40-mile stretch of highway ia or about 11,000 bags. MoDOT is also working with the Kansas City Police Department to stop new graffiti and is asking for help from the public. Anyone who notices someone graffitiing public property should call KCPD at (816)-234-5111.
There is a renewed effort to clean up graffiti in the Kansas City downtown area in advance of several major events.
The Big 12 Men’s Basketball Tournament and NCAA Men’s Basketball Regional will take place in March and the NFL draft will take place in the city in April.
Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT) workers are focusing their attention on interstate highway signs, bridges and overpasses in the downtown area.
“We are working hard to clean up our great city ahead of these events and graffiti removal is one of the things we are focused on,” said Matt Killion, MoDOT Assistant District Engineer.
Graffiti on most surfaces can be washed off or repainted, 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 go in and do that, especially when it’s a top-down cartel,” Killion said.
This work is also typically done on weekends when traffic is light because signage replacement and graffiti removal typically involve closing lanes and ramps.
Killion also said that removing graffiti is an ongoing battle.
“Often, we cover up some graffiti, remove some graffiti and it will appear the next day,” he said.
MoDOT workers also collected trash along highways in urban Kansas City.
From last June through the end of 2022, MoDOT reports that it collected 73 tons of trash along a 40-mile stretch of highway, or about 11,000 bags.
The MoDOT is also working with the Kansas City Police Department to stop new graffiti and is enlisting the help of the public.
Anyone who notices someone graffitiing public property should call the KCPD at (816)-234-5111.
