Monticello Road Dedication

New scenic road provides access to park, lake

Members of the community gathered with city officials on September 27 to dedicate the newly rebuilt portion of Monticello Road from Prairie Star Parkway to 83rd Street, which now provides access to Black Hoof Park and Lake Lenexa.

This scenic 1-3/4 mile stretch of road, which previously was a narrow country road, now features a 350-foot, six-span bridge with a sidewalk on one side and a 10-foot-wide trail that connects to the city’s trail system on the other. Additional features include two scenic overlooks from the bridge, which now stands 20 feet higher than the original roadway, a 450-foot retaining wall, artistically designed panels with sculpted nature scenes, four roundabouts that include stone walls and native grass landscaping, two lanes plus turn lanes, curbs and gutters, storm drainage improvements, and new street lights. Water quality improvements, including eight new bioretention cells and native plantings, also were incorporated into the project.

While Monticello from 83rd Street to the park is open, crews are wrapping up the final work on the street and sidewalks. Landscaping will be completed next spring.