Coffey Road/Riverchase Dr. Update:

A report from Parkville spokesperson Gia McFarlane:

In preparation for the potential of high flow elevations, the city continues to work toward agreements necessary to improve and use Coffey Road for emergency and public access to Riverchase subdivision, businesses between Coffey Road and Riverchase Drive, Hunt Martin Materials and residents on Ward Road. Necessary agreements between the city and university have been drafted and are under review. Access through Park University, the 6th Street bridge and other improvements are also being discussed.

A preliminary agreement between the city and university allowed the city to access and prepare Coffey Road so vegetation could be cleared in case of an emergency and required potential public access.

The city is also working with MoDOT to determine if 9 Highway can be sandbagged and kept open to traffic through Parkville. MoDOT has limited sandbagging resources but has surveyed key elevations along 9 Highway. These elevations help determine if 9 Highway can be kept open with the use of sandbags along the south right-of-way line. Preliminary review indicates that sandbags may be effective in keeping 9 Highway open in the vicinity of Coffey Road and Riverchase Drive depending on the height of flooding.

MoDOT is currently evaluating the predicted flooding impact to their system in order to determine if resources can be allocated to 9 Highway. MoDOT was unable to estimate when a final determination would be made, but suggested a decision was not likely until flood waters were imminent.

The entrance to Riverchase Drive is located north of Missouri River mile marker #376. The flood elevations at this location are proposed to be lower than in downtown Parkville. The Army Corps of Engineer’s predict a lower flow elevation of 750.6’ and a higher flow elevation of 756.6’ in this location (elevations corrected to match local datum. The intersection of the center lines of 9 Highway and Riverchase Drive has been surveyed at 754.4’. The intersection of the center lines of 9 Highway and Coffey Road has been surveyed at 754.57’.