Kingshighway/Hwy. 40 work starting

From the ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH 05/31/2007
By Elisa Crouch

City street officials are expecting the worst during the Friday morning rush hour on Kingshighway, when it will be down to two lanes from three in each direction at Highway 40.

"This first week is going to be trouble," said Todd Waelterman, St. Louis streets director, at a Wednesday press conference.

Gateway Constructors will replace the interchange and overpasses as part of the Highway 40 (Interstate 64) rebuilding effort.

Kingshighway will be constricted for six months.

City officials anticipate spending about $7 million to reduce gridlock during the effort.

How nearby streets handle traffic bypassing the Kingshighway interchange will indicate whether the city's efforts are working. About 35,000 vehicles travel the stretch daily, according to Gateway.

It will take a week for traffic to stabilize, Waelterman said.

St. Louis Mayor Francis Slay said drivers should avoid the interchange. The city won't recommend any one route as an alternative, he said, because too many motorists would use it and clog it up. Slay also urged drivers in the area to move out of traffic lanes, if possible, after a fender-bender.

"Everyone will get to where they need to go if they're smart, flexible and use alternatives, especially during rush hour," Slay said.

Here is the schedule of lane restrictions on Kingshighway, between Oakland Avenue and Hospital Plaza Drive:

• Kingshighway narrows to one lane each way at 7 p.m. tonight so that crews can repaint stripes.
• Two lanes each way will open before the Friday morning rush.
• At 6:30 p.m. Friday, Kingshighway will have one northbound lane and two southbound lanes open, so that crews can demolish part of the bridge over Clayton Avenue.
• Two lanes each way will be open by 7 a.m. Saturday, and for the next six months.
  

So far, the New I-64 project is on schedule, said Lesley Hoffarth, the project director for the Department of Transportation. The work officially began in March.