Now that Downtown Now is about to phase out, what is the status of the lid project? Does anyone know? I know funding was being sought, but there hasn't been any information on the project in a while.



Reeves has spoken about finishing up Phase I business with Chouteau Lake, but what about the lid connector?



Here's the design that was chosen.



















Links:

Downtown Now Lid Concepts

I wonder about this project too.

This is the kind of project that the city and Downtown Now should have been spearheading, not Old Post Office Square.



Let's hope some progress has been made.

I never actually saw those renderings. I had heard there would be shops or some small retail, not just fountains...



Oh well, I guess anything is better than a dirty, depressed interstate.

The $800,000 needed to start phase one the lake project needs be given to this project instead. The ambiance of this area would be incredible if the interstate was covered.

An update from Jim Cloar of the downtown STL Partnership:

Tom Reeves has asked that we clarify a news item reported this week. There are no plans for Downtown Now! to be dissolved. They still have several projects and programs in progress, though they expect to continue to work even more closely with us and the City.

Source

The following blurb was in today's Van der Werf column. Enough talk already about the lid, let's get something done!



-----



The report recommends that the city put new developments on a "fast track," including a lid over Interstate 70 to connect downtown and the Gateway Arch, the Bottle District entertainment development north of the dome and the new casino to be built on Laclede?s Landing.



Source:Van der Werf

I love it - it's great to see people working with a sense of urgency and priority being placed on these important projects.

I spoke with the Mayor last week and this project was on his top list. He is very dedicated on getting this project rolling and done... he mentioned it on his own will as well.

Having participated in Fair STL this past weekend, it was very much evident how important this project is to the advancement of the downtown development plan. Let's get it done!!!

Please correct me if I am wrong - maybe I have missed something or something has changed. But didn't they put Diane Balmoral (Mrs. Cesar Pelli) in charge of capping the highway and redesigning the waterfront area?

She's definitely involved in the riverfront planning, not sure if she's involved in the Arch connector project though.

Expat wrote:Please correct me if I am wrong - maybe I have missed something or something has changed. But didn't they put Diane Balmoral (Mrs. Cesar Pelli) in charge of capping the highway and redesigning the waterfront area?

No, that is an entirely different project. Unfortunately the Riverfont Plan is for just that -- the riverfront. That would basically only include from Lenore K. Sullivan to the river between the Eads and Poplar Street bridges. It is kind of a joke actually. What are they going to do, reorient the levee stones?



http://www.greatrivers.info/Projects/PD ... mation.pdf

I just heard that there is a press conference going on right now at City Hall regarding the Mississippi Riverfront Master Plan and the Gateway Arch Pedestrian Connector.

Is it this?

-exerpt



# In April, I announced that two major projects of regional significance would be priorities:



# The redevelopment of the Central Riverfront so that it becomes a destination for people who live in the region and people who visit the region.



# The development of a plaza ?lid? over I-70 to link the the Arch Grounds to Downtown.



These projects are complex, they will cost millions of dollars and they will take several years to complete. But if completed, they will transform the face of St. Louis and bolster our region?s image nationally and internationally.



With this in mind, I have asked the Danforth Foundation to provide funding to accelerate the planning and design process.



Link to rest of story below



Mayor Slay: Progress on the Riverfront

I am sure we will here more today, but yes... John Danforth was also part of the press conference today. Visiting the link you provided above for mayorslay.com, it was a little disheartening to read they will have a detailed strategy for actual implementation for the projects only if there is enough interest and support.

As a result, a year from now we will have a final plan for the Central Riverfront in St. Louis and a specific design concept for the Arch Grounds Connector. Most importantly, if Senator Danforth determines that there is enough interest and support, we will have a detailed strategy for actual implementation.

I still think this is great news. The tone of the article is very positive and Danforth has a great reputation. I can't help but be optimistic that this will move forward.

loftlover wrote:I still think this is great news. The tone of the article is very positive and Danforth has a great reputation. I can't help but be optimistic that this will move forward.

No, you are right, it is great news and the tone of the article is very positive. I was just hoping for an announcment to start construction of the "Arch Grounds Connector" and not simply an announcement that a specific design concept for the Arch Grounds Connector will be ready in a year and then, if there is enough interest and support, a detailed strategy for actual implementation. My anticipation came because I had thought a specific design concept was already chosen.

Frankly, I am glad to hear that they are going to rework the designs because i was not so impressed with the first round of options. I agree with the idea made by southslider in another thread about how the depressed lanes would not be needed if a new river bridge is built. Therefore any new design should take into account such a posiblity and add land to the arch grounds while leaving a nice 4-6 lane street to handle traffic on Memorial Drive.



Finaly it would be nice to see the design take into acount its ablity ot effect the sucess of Fair St. Louis. I think one of the largest obsitcals for the fair is the size of the arch grounds. Regardless of the musical acts, there is only so much space for people to cram into the area around the grounds and still see the screens and hear the music. A well designes plan would add the both the arch grounds and the viewable are for the Fair, making it easier for the fair to have more people attend.

Urban, I too thought that Downtown Now! already had a plan for the I-70 lid which was chosen from three alternatives a couple years ago. That preferred alternative must have been scrapped. I liked the preferred alternative since it kept people/cars on the same level. The main issue is timing the stoplights on Memorial to keep cars going a reasonable speed while ensuring pedestrians a safe crossing. Memorial Drive can be as confusing to drivers as it is to pedestrians. As it is now wheel chairs have to stay on the street and crosswalks don't follow a logical order. I've seen a lot of near misses (b/w people and cars) as well as many car crashes. The entire road needs to be reworked.



To build on the Parkway concept. Since it will be a while until the new bridge is built, keep Memorial Drive/I-70 as it is now(and a lid), then when the time comes tear down the viaduct from Washington to near Cass to build the Parkway. The current depressed section would have to remain as it would be difficult to make northbound(from I-55) traffic go up a large hill to be at the same level as the arch in such a short stretch.

b&m, it wouldn't be any more of a climb than that now for I-70 from the depressed section to the viaduct, or that now from I-55 to Memorial Drive.



Still, since the lid over the 3-blocks between the Arch and Courthouse does look like a go, and easily way before the new river bridge, it may make sense to keep the depressed section as an extended I-44/55 exit to Washington Avenue.



Such an idea would create a double-decker urban boulevard between Poplar and Washington, but a single at-grade urban boulevard (think Kingshighway along Barnes or Tucker near Market) between Washington and the new river bridge.



Signalized interchanges could be limited to those about the lid for the upper level (as there are now) and at Washington/Eads and Cole/MLK for the combined new urban boulevard at and north of Washington. Thus, those coming from I-44/55 in South City wishing to continue onto I-70 in North City (or vice-versa) could have as few as just two stop lights, Washington/Eads and Cole/MLK. Plus, these lights could be timed thus that you would only stop at one or the other, if either at all. Crosswalk pavers, countdown walk signals, rumble strips for lanes coming off the highway and other traffic calming improvements would be needed to facilitate safe crossings and discourage speeding (maybe posted at 40mph). Cass Avenue could cross above or below the touch-down ramps coming off of the I-70 interchange for the new bridge, with possibly outer roads or exits to/from Downtown.

<A HREF="http://www.stltoday.com/stltoday/news/s ... 3">Contest to link Arch, downtown gets funds</A>

By Michele Munz

Of the Post-Dispatch

08/01/2005



The Danforth Foundation will fund the engineering work and design competition for a plazalike walkway that will connect the Arch grounds with the rest of downtown.



The vision for the connector involves a three-block design that will cover the depressed lanes and create a plaza-like environment between north and southbound Memorial Drive.



<A HREF="http://www.stltoday.com/stltoday/news/s ... 51001756A3">>>> read more</A>

-The Danforth Foundation has issued a request for proposals with a deadline of January 20. I figure once the cost estimates come in there will be a better handle on when the lid will be built.



Request for Proposals



Arch Grounds Connector Project





The Danforth Foundation is requesting proposals from engineering firms

or consultant teams that include an engineering firm for structural design,

cost estimating, construction scheduling and public engagement for

development of the Arch Grounds Connector Project. A complete

description of the scope of work and submission requirements can be

obtained by calling the Danforth Foundation at (314) 588-1900 Extension

4. A pre-submittal meeting will be held on Wednesday, January 11, 2006,

at 10:00 AM at the Old Courthouse, First Floor Conference Room, 11 N.

Fourth Street, St. Louis, MO 63102 for clarification of any questions on the

specifications. Please RSVP for the pre-submittal meeting by calling the

Danforth Foundation at (314) 588-1900 Extension 4. Proponents should

submit 10 copies of their proposal by 3:00 PM local time on Friday,

January 20, 2006, to the following address:



The Danforth Foundation

211 N. Broadway, Suite 2390

One Metropolitan Square

St. Louis, MO 63102

Tel: 314-588-1900





The right is reserved by the Danforth Foundation to reject any or all proposals. EOE



(published: 01/03/2006)



Source: http://www.stltoday.com