No Access to I-170 From Eager... Soon

After numerous complaints that the Eager Road / I-170 ramp was a head-on collision waiting to happen, Gateway contractors will be eliminating access to I-170 from Eager Road. Starting next week, if you are on Eager Road, you have to go to Brentwood Blvd and then north to the Galleria Parkway on-ramp, to access I-170.

This has been my only sore spot with the whole project and I'm very happy to see that they've come to their senses and will be making this an exit for south bound I-170 only.

With this closure, they should be able to place some concrete barricades between south bound and north bound I-170 traffic.

Diggers, Diggers, Everywhere!

Yesterday, I surveyed the construction zone between Clayton/Warson Rd and Brentwood Blvd. I couldn't believe the amount of equipment doing work through out that 3 mile stretch of I-64.

Three weeks into the project and they have already torn down 3 overpasses, removed most if not all of the hillside for the fly-over ramp at I-170 and torn up nearly all of the old pavement that was I-64.

Further west, a half mile of highway was littered with rows of storm sewer pipe waiting to be installed. There is a lot of infrastructure work like this, that needs to be done before grading for the roadbed can even begin.

There is still over 11 months to go, but they seem to be off to a fast start. Let's hope the weather holds out this spring and summer so they can finish this portion of the highway rebuild early.

MODOT 2.0

It seems like the folks over at MODOT have really embraced this whole technology thing. They've also become quite media savvy with their daily briefings on the day's commute and their weekly online question and answer sessions at the Post Dispatch's website, (occurs every wednesday from 2 - 3 pm.)

My wife thought it would be a good idea if MODOT kept up the traffic web cams along the closed I-64, just so that people could see what was happening. Low and behold, it looks like MODOT is doing just that!

It's nice when a government agency "gets it." And that "it" is that most people are quite understanding, as long as you keep them updated as to what is going on and listen to them when they have a legitimate gripe.

The willingness for MODOT and Gateway Constructors to keep the general public informed has really seemed to have defused what could have a public relations nightmare.

McKnight Rd Closed

As of 7 AM on Monday morning, the McKnight Road overpass was closed to traffic for 6 months. McKnight came down with little fanfair, save for the occassional resident of the York Hills subdivision that made the trek up to Northcote Rd to watch it's demise.

As of Wednesday, all that remained were the footings on the north and south ends of what used to be the overpass. If McKnight was on your route to get from point "A" to point "B", might I suggest Brentwood Blvd.



Now before you wince in pain at the thought of driving on Brentwood between Eager and Clayton Roads, it has gotten much easier since there is not traffic waiting to get onto I-64. Give it a try sometime, I think you'll be pleasantly surprised.

Eager to I-170 Open

The St Louis County Highway Department has decided to allow motorists access to I-170 from eastbound Eager Rd. There apparently is still some confusion due to a few cones being left in place.