And right after Grand is replaced, Jefferson's bridge over 40 will be replaced in 2011.
GregL wrote:And right after Grand is replaced, Jefferson's bridge over 40 will be replaced in 2011.
Huh? It was replaced this year.
no it wasn't. the bridge over the train tracks was replaced, not over 40. 
12-18 months is my guess leaning towards the longer time frame. The bridge crosses active railroad tracks which always lengthens construction projects.bonwich wrote:Over/under pool: Will this project take less time or longer than it took to rebuild the second half of I-64?
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bonwich wrote:Over/under pool: Will this project take less time or longer than it took to rebuild the second half of I-64?
How long did Kingshighway over the tracks tracks take? 2 1/2 years?
I give it at least two years at best. As most everybody is aware, trains trump construction because of interstate commerce laws. The city nor the contractor simply don't have a say in the matter.
Not only active railroad tracks, but active Metrolink tracks.
Is this project still on schedule? I'm amazed at how little information is available when demolition is slated to begin within two months.
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At this point it's probably around seven to nine months off from starting construction. The delay could be due to the City having to concentrate their resources on several economic stimulus projects that are in the pipeline.
The last update I got (two weeks ago) said the City will be accepting bids in March, with construction scheduled to start in June and lasting 12 months.
For what it's worth.
For what it's worth.
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The bridge project needs to include the detail of adding a left-turn lane from north-bound Grand onto west-bound Chouteau. No left turn?? You can't get to the Grove. And this intersection basically has a 10 acre field to play with.
I'm looking at the streetscape plans for Grand from Park to Chouteau right now. Grand will be reduced to 4 lanes, a concrete median will be installed, and dedicated bike lanes in both directions are included. Not included is a left-turn lane from northbound Grand to westbound Chouteau.Chris_on_Kingsbury wrote:The bridge project needs to include the detail of adding a left-turn lane from north-bound Grand onto west-bound Chouteau. No left turn?? You can't get to the Grove. And this intersection basically has a 10 acre field to play with.
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Do you have an image of the streetscape plans? Or a PDF or anything...I can't wait for this bridge to finally get built. It should really help connect both campuses for SLU.
The PDF of the plans is available from the Board of Public Service's website (direct link). It's a large 26MB file, so I don't think I can host it anywhere. I may write a blog post on the streetscape plans this week. I'll post an update here if I do, or at the very least, excerpts of the plans.Chaifetz10 wrote:Do you have an image of the streetscape plans? Or a PDF or anything...I can't wait for this bridge to finally get built. It should really help connect both campuses for SLU.
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Thanks for the link!
I actually misread your post and thought it was the streetscape plans for the viaduct itself. None the less, this is good information.
I actually misread your post and thought it was the streetscape plans for the viaduct itself. None the less, this is good information.
You can host it on http://scribd.comMill204 wrote:The PDF of the plans is available from the Board of Public Service's website (direct link). It's a large 26MB file, so I don't think I can host it anywhere. I may write a blog post on the streetscape plans this week. I'll post an update here if I do, or at the very least, excerpts of the plans.Chaifetz10 wrote:Do you have an image of the streetscape plans? Or a PDF or anything...I can't wait for this bridge to finally get built. It should really help connect both campuses for SLU.
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I looked for direct link to the project...didn't find it at the link.
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I know they're adding a right turn lane on NB Grand at Chouteau. Since the new bridge is two lanes, I'd imagine there'd be room for a left turn lane as well.
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The left turn lane is not a small issue: it seriously isolates the Grove right now. I thought the excuse for no-left-turns in St. Louis is that old intersections don't have the room for the necessary lane with modern traffic. Since this is a big re-build, there is no excuse if the essential is omitted.
Instead, the project can leave-off the plethora of light bulbs used on the Kingshighway viaduct.
Let's allow the Grand Metrolink station to become a delightful vantage point to view St. Louis: the views right now of Mid Town and Downtown are excellent! But at present, to linger atop the present bridge gives these impressions: noise, traffic, danger, isolation, barren-ness. The new bridge will be a great improvement.
Instead, the project can leave-off the plethora of light bulbs used on the Kingshighway viaduct.
Let's allow the Grand Metrolink station to become a delightful vantage point to view St. Louis: the views right now of Mid Town and Downtown are excellent! But at present, to linger atop the present bridge gives these impressions: noise, traffic, danger, isolation, barren-ness. The new bridge will be a great improvement.
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^ Good point. I'll admit to turning left onto Chouteau from Grand quite a number of times coming home from dinner on S. Grand. There's zero reason to not have a left-turn lane, with existing layout/space.
From Biondi's February message:
Grand Bridge Update: I want to update you on the latest news regarding the reconstruction of the Grand Boulevard Bridge planned by the City of St. Louis. City officials have notified us that the tentative start date is July 1st, 2010. We were also told that the bridge will be closed for about one year.
This $27 million project will completely replace the bridge as well as the Grand Boulevard MetroLink station. Although the closure will be inconvenient, it's critical to remember that this important project will improve our Midtown neighborhood. Traveling across the bridge — either by foot or in a car — will be safer. The beautification of the bridge will compliment enhancements we are planning along Grand through our Medical Center. We applied for and received a federal grant, administered through the state, which will help fund new lighting, sidewalks, bike lanes and a landscaped, irrigated median along Grand between Chouteau and Park Avenues. A right-hand turn lane from Grand onto eastbound Chouteau also will be added.
The City, Saint Louis University Hospital and SSM Cardinal Glennon Children's Medical Center are assisting us with this project. Look for more details about these improvements in future messages.
In anticipation of the closure of the bridge, we have been working on plans to minimize the impact on our operations. I will share those plans with you as we draw closer to construction.
Grand Bridge Update: I want to update you on the latest news regarding the reconstruction of the Grand Boulevard Bridge planned by the City of St. Louis. City officials have notified us that the tentative start date is July 1st, 2010. We were also told that the bridge will be closed for about one year.
This $27 million project will completely replace the bridge as well as the Grand Boulevard MetroLink station. Although the closure will be inconvenient, it's critical to remember that this important project will improve our Midtown neighborhood. Traveling across the bridge — either by foot or in a car — will be safer. The beautification of the bridge will compliment enhancements we are planning along Grand through our Medical Center. We applied for and received a federal grant, administered through the state, which will help fund new lighting, sidewalks, bike lanes and a landscaped, irrigated median along Grand between Chouteau and Park Avenues. A right-hand turn lane from Grand onto eastbound Chouteau also will be added.
The City, Saint Louis University Hospital and SSM Cardinal Glennon Children's Medical Center are assisting us with this project. Look for more details about these improvements in future messages.
In anticipation of the closure of the bridge, we have been working on plans to minimize the impact on our operations. I will share those plans with you as we draw closer to construction.
I haven't seen any design sketches since 2006.
Yeah. The design in the bottom right is the old design. They shot it down because it was too expensive. I want to see the new design.
Also, someone noted in a previous blog that the picture shows a pseudo forest underneath the bridge when in reality it is an run down industrial jungle.
I think that St. Louis should follow the rejuvenation of the Milwaukee's Menomonee River Valley. It was almost exactly the same as the St. Louis "Grand Valley". It had equal amount of railroad tracks, warehouses, and all things industrial. Just like in St. Louis it was next to a university (Marquette) and a freeway (I-94).
Then the city purchased much of the land in the late 80's and since then has turned the area into one of the gems of the city. Read the "rejuvenation section" of the wikipedia article [wiki=][/http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Menomonee_ ... _Milwaukee] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Menomonee_ ... _Milwaukee
The Potowotami Casino was built in the valley, a building with beautiful architecture and design, just underwent a 240 million dollar expansion (yes 240 mil just for the expansion). Also Marquette has an artificial turf football field and soccer field in the valley called Valley Fields. Many other companies have settled in that don't have the industrial look.
I would like to see the metro line go underground in the valley for about 2/3 of a mile. Then come up briefly for the Grand Station stop to drop people off. I envision this plot of land as "Grand Valley Park" and having a green landscape. Short trails for people to run on, walk their dogs, etc. It doesn't need anything over-the-top like a history museum or anything. If you ever spend more than 30 minutes on either Laclede St. or West Pine (in between Grand and Kingshighway) you will likely see a SLU student running over to Forest Park. Its around 1.5 miles one way. It's because there isn't much for green space or parks in the central corridor, especially near Grand Center. This is needed urgently. Have you ever driven past the green patch of land next to SLU on the NE corner of Grand and Lindell. There is almost always someone there with their dog. Although its private property owned by SLU and likely to be developed in the next 10 years, it is about the biggest patch of green space someone living in the area could find. Moreover, this shows that its not just SLU students in need of a park (how many SLU students own dogs and yet there is almost always someone there at all hours of the day) and green space, it is a wide variety of people living in the area.
Then surrounding it, could be business parks where companies working on scientific research or technology could be. Milwaukee has done this - they call it the Milwaukee County research park and there's a couple research parks in Wauwatosa. It has brought thousands of high-paying, highly educated jobs to the area. Is it any surprise that in response, GE has their world headquarters for GE health care technologies outside Milwaukee.
Dislike or Like? any other suggestions?
I think that St. Louis should follow the rejuvenation of the Milwaukee's Menomonee River Valley. It was almost exactly the same as the St. Louis "Grand Valley". It had equal amount of railroad tracks, warehouses, and all things industrial. Just like in St. Louis it was next to a university (Marquette) and a freeway (I-94).
Then the city purchased much of the land in the late 80's and since then has turned the area into one of the gems of the city. Read the "rejuvenation section" of the wikipedia article [wiki=][/http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Menomonee_ ... _Milwaukee] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Menomonee_ ... _Milwaukee
The Potowotami Casino was built in the valley, a building with beautiful architecture and design, just underwent a 240 million dollar expansion (yes 240 mil just for the expansion). Also Marquette has an artificial turf football field and soccer field in the valley called Valley Fields. Many other companies have settled in that don't have the industrial look.
I would like to see the metro line go underground in the valley for about 2/3 of a mile. Then come up briefly for the Grand Station stop to drop people off. I envision this plot of land as "Grand Valley Park" and having a green landscape. Short trails for people to run on, walk their dogs, etc. It doesn't need anything over-the-top like a history museum or anything. If you ever spend more than 30 minutes on either Laclede St. or West Pine (in between Grand and Kingshighway) you will likely see a SLU student running over to Forest Park. Its around 1.5 miles one way. It's because there isn't much for green space or parks in the central corridor, especially near Grand Center. This is needed urgently. Have you ever driven past the green patch of land next to SLU on the NE corner of Grand and Lindell. There is almost always someone there with their dog. Although its private property owned by SLU and likely to be developed in the next 10 years, it is about the biggest patch of green space someone living in the area could find. Moreover, this shows that its not just SLU students in need of a park (how many SLU students own dogs and yet there is almost always someone there at all hours of the day) and green space, it is a wide variety of people living in the area.
Then surrounding it, could be business parks where companies working on scientific research or technology could be. Milwaukee has done this - they call it the Milwaukee County research park and there's a couple research parks in Wauwatosa. It has brought thousands of high-paying, highly educated jobs to the area. Is it any surprise that in response, GE has their world headquarters for GE health care technologies outside Milwaukee.
Dislike or Like? any other suggestions?