Residents concerned about continued road closure near Independence data center
Residents near the new Nebius data center in Independence are concerned that North Bly Road has remained closed since April because of construction. City officials say weather delayed the work and that the developer expects to complete it within three to four weeks, but residents worry about emergency access and winter conditions.
North Bly Road in Independence has been closed for months in front of a new Nebius data center, forcing nearby residents to use a steep northern detour. Residents told KMBC they are dealing with persistent construction noise and are concerned that the closure could delay emergency response, particularly if winter weather arrives before the road reopens.
Independence Councilman Bryce Stewart raised the issue after residents complained. The city manager said the developer, NorthPoint, expects the work to be finished within three to four weeks, while the city attributed the delay to rain. NorthPoint did not respond to KMBC's requests for comment, and residents questioned why the road could not have been completed before the data center opened.