Recently, Cathy Hurst, owner of Tipsy’s Liquor in Mission, has thanked each customer she sees for coming into the store.
That’s because, for the past four weeks, Hurst said customers have been “trudging through” the traffic delays caused by significant construction along Johnson Drive between Lamar Avenue and the Metcalf Avenue bridge.
Upon completion in spring 2027, the $13 million reconstruction project aims to improve connectivity and safety for all users.
But after the work started this summer, drivers have been unable to travel north or south across Johnson Drive due to road closures and the two eastbound lanes being entirely demolished.
Hurst said the reconstruction project has been an unpleasant experience so far, particularly because, despite Tipsy’s loyal customer base, it has resulted in a “fair” decline in sales.
“It’s going to be hard for us,” Hurst said. “We’ll do it, you know, we’ll get by. We don’t know the impact going forward, either. Are people going to figure it out? It’s kind of a day-to-day thing for us, figuring out how bad or how OK it’s going to be.”
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Other small business owners along this western stretch of Johnson Drive, like Ashley Valverde of Mud Pie Bakery and Jill and Kevin Moxley of Plato’s Closet, share similar concerns about inaccessibility to their storefronts during the reconstruction project.
The Moxleys, Valverde and Hurst all say they were unaware of how significantly the project would impact traffic and accessibility.
“We figured maybe they would do it in phases, maybe close one of the roads (Broadmoor or Barkley streets) and then have one open,” Hurst said. “It’s probably our fault for not going to city planning meetings and paying more attention, but we had no idea that they were going to close it to the extent they did.”
The $13 million reconstruction project is only in its second of six phases — with plans for similar closures of the westbound lanes of Johnson Drive in later phases.
In an email statement to the Post, Mayor Sollie Flora said the city is listening “to our local businesses impacted by this major construction project.”
“We understand the challenges our small businesses face and are working on determining ways to provide additional support during this time,” Flora said. “Unfortunately, a project of this magnitude will always present challenges for residents and businesses, but it is far overdue for completion.”
Businesses “wouldn’t be able to survive” long-term hit to sales
Valverde, co-owner of Mud Pie Bakery, said the reconstruction project has been “stressful and challenging” for the vegan eatery.
Since the eastbound lanes closed on Aug. 24, Valverde said business has been down by 40% in one recent week alone.
Valverde said the bakery took to social media to ask for support, which led to additional special orders the last weekend of August. Business slowed down again after that, she said.
If this trend keeps up, Valverde said Mud Pie Bakery, which moved to Mission from Overland Park in late 2024, can only maintain itself for so long.
“We wouldn’t be able to survive this decrease for more than a few months,” Valverde said. “Hopefully we can figure out some way to open up some of the traffic flow so it makes it easier for people to get in and out.”
Others like Plato’s Closet and The Big Biscuit share the concerns of their fellow business owners of Mud Pie Bakery and Tipsy’s Liquor.
The Moxleys, the family who owns and operates the Mission Plato’s Closet as a franchisee, understand the need for the $13 million reconstruction project.
Still, the Moxleys say the inability for eastbound traffic to turn left from Johnson Drive is impacting their store.
For The Big Biscuit, both the main entrance and exit to the breakfast spot’s parking lot are currently closed because of the construction.
Alex Clark, the vice president of finance for The Big Biscuit, said customers need to drive several blocks past the restaurant and turn around in order to enter the rear entrance from Broadmoor Street.
Clark said the Mission location, which opened in 2024, is down nearly 20% in sales on the weekend — when the breakfast and brunch restaurant typically does its best. That decline has also led to struggles retaining tipped staff, she said.
“It’s just unfortunate timing to have really started to feel like we were getting in our groove and then, all of a sudden, we’re not as convenient for our guests to choose as some of our competitors who aren’t being impacted by this,” Clark said.
City says it’s working with businesses
In an email to the Post, Mission Public Works Director Stephanie Boyce said city leaders have heard from several businesses and property owners who are taking a hit to sales during the reconstruction project.
Boyce said staff is working directly with businesses the city has heard from “to better understand their concerns and address issues as they arise.”
This could look like improving accessibility to a business through construction, signage, traffic control or other ways the city can help ensure customers can get to businesses, Boyce said.
“Our goal is to safely complete this necessary infrastructure project while minimizing impacts to businesses, residents and the traveling public as much as we reasonably can,” Boyce said.
The current phase during which the eastbound lanes of Johnson Drive are completely closed is “one of its most intensive,” Boyce said. This phase is expected to last until mid-December because of the amount of stormwater structure installation involved, Boyce said.
Boyce said that as the project progresses through its six total phases, “some of the impacts will ideally lessen.” The project’s estimated completion date is in spring 2027.
“We know that is a significant amount of time, but this work is necessary to improve the condition, safety and long-term reliability of Johnson Drive,” Boyce said.
Businesses and residents can reach out to the public works department with questions or concerns about the Johnson Drive reconstruction project. The department’s contact information can be found online here, or it can be reached via phone at (913) 676-8375.
The project will be underway until spring 2027
Currently, crews are ripping up the eastbound lanes on Johnson Drive between Lamar Avenue and the Metcalf Avenue bridge.
This marks the beginning of phase two of six.
The remaining phases are as follows, as outlined on the city’s website:
- Phase 3: The closure of Broadmoor Street at Johnson Drive for storm connection work.
- Phase 4: The closure of the westbound traffic lanes on Johnson Drive, with two-way traffic flowing through the eastbound lanes.
- Phase 5: The closure of the interior lanes for median work.
- Phase 6: Roadway surfacing and the installation of roadway markings.
Phase two is expected to last 120 days from the Aug. 17 start date, Boyce said, putting it at mid-December for completion. Phase four, when the westbound lanes close, is anticipated to take 90 days with similar north-south crossing closures, Boyce said.
The Johnson Drive businesses the Post spoke with — Mud Pie Bakery, Tipsy’s Liquor, The Big Biscuit and Plato’ s Closet — all say that the best way to show support is to brave the construction and shop, dine or, in Plato’s case, sell, with their business.
For Clark, the people who live and work in the Mission area “are pretty loyal to this area.” She said she gets the sense that drivers and customers are “disappointed” they can’t easily reach these businesses.
Still, Clark said she is hopeful that people will adjust to the ongoing traffic delays and lane closures over the next several months.
As for the project itself, Clark said The Big Biscuit is “very much looking forward to the new corridor.”
“Ultimately, we’re trying to look at this from a positive lens and understand that, temporarily, this is really inconvenient and it is having an impact on our business,” Clark said.
“But, from the other perspective, we hope that more people will be encouraged to trade along that corridor because of the improvements in access, the improvements in aesthetics, and maybe it will really revive the area.”
Keep reading traffic and roads news: Mission closing lanes on Johnson Drive for $13M rebuild, eyeing spring 2027
