Quick Summary

When Kansas City developer Mike Zeller needed a way to control extreme winds on the Rock Island Bridge project, he called Solar Shield Blinds for help. Solar Shield designed and installed 37 custom motorized exterior shades to protect the bridge’s restaurant, bar, and event spaces while maintaining the project’s open-air atmosphere. Through detailed planning, expert installation, and a strong focus on safety, the project was completed on schedule and became a major success for the venue.

When Mike Needed Trusted Experts For A Massive
Exterior Shade Project, Solar Shield Got The Call

How We Helped Make The Rock Island Bridge
Project A Major Kansas City Success Story

Kansas City entrepreneur Mike Zeller had a vision – transform an abandoned railroad bridge into a multi-use event destination. 

There was just one problem. On-site winds of up to 40 miles an hour were the norm, not the exception. Without reliable protection from these winds, there was no way to turn the project into a workable reality.

To tackle this problem, Mike had one name in mind – Solar Shield Blinds.

News of our previous commercial projects had convinced him we were the team for the job. And he was right. 

Through a meticulous process, we outfitted the two-story bridge with windproof, motorized exterior shades. Mike was more than impressed with the final results. And we were super-proud to help this one-of-a-kind local attraction come fully to life. 

Mike’s Vision For His Bridge Makeover Hits A Snag

Rock Island Bridge spans the Kansas River on the west side of Kansas City, MO. For long years, it served as part of a heavily used railroad line. By the 2000s, it was still structurally sound. However, its days as an active rail link were behind it. 

In 2018, Mike Zeller had a great idea. Take this disused bridge and turn it into America’s first above-river entertainment district. 

Mike encountered plenty of problems while trying to put the project together. He overcame them one by one until he had a clear path to construction and completion.

But as he approached the project’s end in 2025, his headaches weren’t done yet. 

The Kansas River creates a natural wind tunnel, funneling regular, heavy gusts right through the bridge. With nothing to block them, these gusts were strong enough to damage equipment and keep patrons away.

Mike needed a reliable way to keep wind out and deliver on his vision’s promise. So, he picked up the phone and placed a call to Solar Shield’s owner, Tim Sanders.

“Transforming an old railroad bridge is a heavy lift, and we really relied on local companies that wanted to help get this thing across the finish line and do a good job at a really good price. And I’ve got to say, Solar Shield was at the top of our list of subs. They really set the tone for the professionalism we saw…”



Solar Shield Creates A Detailed Exterior Shade Plan

To say that this was a unique project was a serious understatement. It would take some major planning to create a custom solution for each of the bridge’s two stories.

But at Solar Shield, we’re built upon the YES Experience. This is our unwavering commitment to producing great results on even the trickiest projects. With this in mind, Tim didn’t hesitate one second to answer Mike’s request for help.

Over the next few months, he and the rest of the Solar Shield team developed a detailed approach. Every factor was considered:

Wind speed and wind patterns. 

The required spans for each section of automated exterior screen. The right screen material and the right manufacturer to build them. The equipment and manpower needed to get the finished sections up to the work site. 

Each element added to the big picture of what was ahead.

Addressing Safety Concerns

Given the 60-foot drop to the river below, safety was also a huge concern. 

Fortunately for everyone, Solar Shield has an advanced, ongoing safety program. Every installer must hold an OSHA 10 certification, and our safety lead is certified at OSHA 30. Together, we created and rehearsed a step-by-step method to minimize risk and securely place each screen. 

The week of the scheduled installation, Tim called all hands on deck. Every installer on our team focused on one goal – doing safe, flawless work for Rock Island Bridge.

Installing The Custom Shades On Rock Island Bridge

Tim and the team set aside five days to install the new exterior shades. 

There were 37 shades overall, each 12 feet across. Every section was designed to span the space between the bridge’s metal frame and lower railings. 

All told, 444 feet of the structure’s openings were covered. On the top level, shades were installed on both sides to protect a restaurant, bar, and event space. The bottom level, which combines private spaces with a public walkway, only required shades on its north side. 

All our careful preplanning paid off. The installation proceeded without a hitch and on schedule. 

Its efficiency and high safety margin did not go unnoticed. In fact, the site’s main foreman remarked repeatedly on how well we’d thought everything through. 

By 5 PM that Friday, the screens were in place and the last of our tools were being cleared away.

“From start to finish, it’s been a very positive experience working with Solar Shield. I pick up the phone, and Tim answers… He worked with me personally on understanding the installation needs, the dimensions, and in about a week, they knocked out the whole project.”

• Mike Zeller, Creator and Developer Of The Rock Island Bridge Project

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