Lemay looks for a good roll with road opening
South County Journal
By Steve Birmingham
Even though a stretch of Weber Road has reopened, a second leg that leads to the new Lemay Casino could open soon.
The Weber Road/Carondelet Boulevard bridge that spans the Gravois Creek, and a near quarter-mile stretch of Weber that leads east to Lemay Ferry Road, reopened recently.
The second leg of the road, a four-lane boulevard which skirts the River Des Peres and Lemay Park, will eventually connect motorists from northbound Interstate 55, run along the south side of the River Des Peres to South Broadway, and then east across to Pinnacle's River City Casino and Hotel.
The almost $20 million road project, built by Pinnacle Entertainment, owners of the River City Casino and Hotel, just needs one final bump smoothed out before its opening, Mark Brady, of the St. Louis County Economic Council, said.
The county will assume maintenance of the road, "although the timing right now is a little bit unsettled until a few technical requirements are resolved," Brady said.
The road, as it flows past Lemay Park and crosses over South Broadway on its way to the casino site, "traverses back and forth between the City of St. Louis and the county," Brady said.
"Different pieces of property in the city of St. Louis have been deeded over to the county," Brady said. "As a result of that there is a process we must go through to verify that the county has everything in place to legally maintain the road."
Barbara Hehmeyer, executive director of the Lemay Chamber of Commerce, said that while anything that eases transportation in the Lemay community is greatly needed, the full benefit will be known when the second leg from South Broadway and the casino opens.
"Weber Road is the way most of us go cross county when we have to, so that is a real help," Hehmeyer said. "I'm hoping that in conjunction with some other things we're planning in the Lemay business corridor, all this will open up access to the businesses in our community. Access to that area had been rather indirect before."
Brady said the new road is a boost for Lemay.
"Everyone is excited about the road opening and it is certainly a sign of the progress made in the Lemay community," Brady said.
Pinnacle officials said the casino is still on schedule to open in the first part of 2010, despite the downturn in the economy.
The $450 million, 90,000-square-foot casino will feature 3,000 slot machines and 60 gaming tables, a hotel with 100 guest rooms, retail and entertainment space. A second phase will include athletic fields, recreational facilities and a community center.
