Northeast Douglas Street Improvements Project

The Northeast Douglas Street Improvements project will reconstruct Northeast Douglas Street from Second Street to Chipman Road. Planned improvements include pavement replacement, sidewalks, shared use path, curb improvements, water line replacement, storm drainage upgrades, street lighting and tree planting. Northeast Douglas Street serves as a key gateway into downtown. This project was approved by voters as part of the 2017 Capital Improvement Program (CIP) sales tax renewal and supports the City’s Livable Streets Policy and ongoing downtown revitalization efforts.

The existing infrastructure along Northeast Douglas Street has deteriorated over time. While records do not indicate exactly when the street was originally constructed, recorded plats and home building permits date from 1887 through the 1920s. Over time, asphalt buildup over the original curb, soil settlement, tree root damage and aging infrastructure have resulted in failed sidewalks and poor drainage throughout the corridor. The street was built before the City adopted a Livable Streets Policy, and improvements are needed to modernize the corridor and support safe, accessible transportation for residents and visitors.

• Design and right-of-way acquisition have been completed.
• Tree removals will be completed prior to construction.
• Construction is anticipated to begin summer 2026, and will take one year or less to complete.

Some trees along the corridor are dead, dying, or unhealthy and are being removed or replaced. Other trees that are being removed are in conflict with planned infrastructure improvements including stormwater utilities, water utilities, sidewalk or the shared use path. More trees are planned to be replanted than are being removed, and there are more existing trees not being removed than are being removed. In total, 48 trees will be removed. The plan called for replanting 76 trees. As of mid-April 2026, 51 trees have been accepted by property owners, 23 trees were declined by property owners, and 2 trees are pending.

Federal guidelines require potential bat trees to be removed between November 1 and March 31, and because construction will be starting after March 31, the City will be removing trees along Northeast Douglas Street before the main project construction starts.

This removal work is expected to begin the week of March 9, 2026. The trees will be fully removed, and stumps will be ground several inches below ground surface, then backfilled to ground level with grindings. The grindings backfill will be temporary until the project's construction. The City’s Contractor will prioritize removing potential bat habitat trees first. Removal of non-bat habitat trees may extend into early April 2026.

This project was planned as part of a community strategic inititiative to improve and reinvest in the downtown gateway corridors such as Douglas Street. It was included in the planned projects for the 2017 Capital Improvement Sales Tax approved by voters. The project also supports the Ignite! Strategic Plan developed by citizens and community stakeholders, and has been included and adopted in the City's Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) annually. The shared use path is identified in the City's Comprehensive Plan, Greenway Master Plan.

The public has been engaged in both the planning and design phases. There was significant public engagement in community-wide planning processes such as the Strategic Plan, Comprehensive Plan, and development of projects for the 2017 CIP Sales tax ballot initiative. During design, public engagement focused primarily on property owners along the corridor. There were public meetings held in 2023, 2024 and 2025, to review the project from concept to final design. There were also numerous individual meetings with property owners as part of the right-of-way acquisition phase, and all acquisitions were completed without the use of condemnation. The City anticipates an additional project meeting prior to construction for citizens to view the final construction plans and to meet the contractor. 

No, there will be no new lanes added and the existing pavement will be made more narrow. 

Yes, left-turn lanes will be added on Douglas at Second Street in both directions; however, no turn lanes will be added along Northeast Douglas Street between Second and Chipman. 

The shared use path will immediately connect Lea McKeighan Park to downtown Lee's Summit. It also connects to the bike lanes on Second Street and bike routes on Orchard Street. There are existing shared-use paths on Chipman Road at Douglas that network with other shared-use paths and trails throughout the City. 

Northeast Dougals Street, as opposed to an adjacent neighborhood street, is a major arterial roadway and connection to other shared-use paths and trails through the City. It is identified as a critical link in the City's Greenway Master Plan. A shared-use path is wider and has a variety of intended users, including pedestrians and bicyclists. The project is receiving federal funding for the shared-use path (non-motorized transportation).

There will be on-street parking allowed on the west side of Douglas between First and Maple streets adjacent to the church; however, that is the only location that will allow on-street parking.