Groundbreaking for Highway 141 extension somewhat ironic for Congressman
KSDK
March 15, 2010
It's a joyous occasion for people tired of the backups on Highway 141 from St. Luke's Hospital to Olive Boulevard.
Federal and state leaders broke ground Monday morning on the new stretch of 141. It's a project that's happening thanks to the American Reinvestment and Recovery Act, making today's celebration somewhat ironic if you're the Republican Congressman who represents the district and voted against the stimulus.
$44.5 million from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act paid for project, which will move Route 141 further to the east between Ladue Road and Olive Boulevard, raise the roadway out of the flood plain and improve traffic flow.
It will connect with a St. Louis County project, the Page-Olive Connector, at Olive. In addition, the contractor, Fred Weber will be completing a $10 million Metropolitan Sewer District upgrade along the Route 141 project.
Work on the project should start in late March and should be finished by summer 2012.
At today's groundbreaking, MoDOT's Ed Hassinger said the project wouldn't have happened if it hadn't been for the stimulus money. He said it is the biggest single stimulus act project MoDOT has done.
US Representative Todd Akin, a Republican, said there was a certain irony in the situation for him. "This was paid for by a bill that I hate.. I didn't vote for it and I still wouldn't vote for it and on the other hand.. we ended up getting the money for this project which I think is a very high priority," he said. "It's unfortunately just a very small part of that bill."
US Senator Claire McCaskill was unable to attend the groundbreaking, but sent her representative Bob Burns in her place. "We can thank President Obama for his vision," Burns said. "What's it going to do? It's going to create jobs."
The new road is expected to divert a great deal of traffic away from Parkway Middle and High Schools, which are both located off the highway.
When the project is finished, 141 will stretch from Jeffco Boulevard in Arnold to the Page Avenue Extension.
St. Louis County Executive Charlie Dooley said he expects the new highway to spur new business development, and in turn create many new jobs for the area. "This is a great project.. it's been a long time coming," he proclaimed.
