Work started on Bruce R. Watkins Drive in 1987, and the 10.2-mile roadway fully opened to traffic as a highway/parkway hybrid in 2001, but its history reaches back decades. More than 35 years since construction began, this exhibition reflects on the road’s winding legacy.

The success of Bruce R. Watkins Drive is just as complicated as its tortured construction. As a link between downtown and the suburbs to the southeast, it’s estimated that over 22 million vehicles travel on the road each year. However, many decry the placement of stoplights and intersecting roads on what they believe should function as a traditional uninterrupted expressway. Local pedestrians and residents, who were meant to benefit from the traffic signals, question if their presence has helped keep them safe.

In 2024, Kansas City launched the Reconnecting the East Side initiative. The project aims to mitigate the negative impact the construction of Bruce R. Watkins Drive has had on East Side communities and businesses. Recognizing that previous efforts to minimize damage and stimulate local economic growth haven’t had the desired effects, this initiative acknowledges current realities and the possibility of positive change.