Done. Moved it over, but forgot to merge.brickandmortar wrote:mods. can we merge this with the other Grand thread.
I definitely like the theme of "light". It will probably become the theme of the reviving Midtown area. Examples: Blue neon lights on SLU building (Beracha Hall) on Laclede St., lights illuminating side of Jesuit Hall, Colorful lights on the Big Brothers Big Sisters Building, and of course the lights on the Fox Theatre and surrounding plaza. I just hope more of this theme could be brought into the shelter areas or stairs so its not just limited to the area under the bridge.
I also like the IDEA of the ivy covered wind block. I hope the incorporation of natural, green elements will help stimulate adjacent Chouteau Greenway efforts. But Ivy won't block the elements the 6 months of the year when the ivy is bare brown branches- the 6 months when protection from the elements is needed most.
I also like the IDEA of the ivy covered wind block. I hope the incorporation of natural, green elements will help stimulate adjacent Chouteau Greenway efforts. But Ivy won't block the elements the 6 months of the year when the ivy is bare brown branches- the 6 months when protection from the elements is needed most.
I think the plans look great. I just hope the transit plaza designers worked with the bridge designers so that the two aesthetics work together.
- 712
What do you guys think about putting cafes next to the bus shelters?
http://stlelsewhere.blogspot.com/2010/0 ... cafes.html
![]()
![]()
http://stlelsewhere.blogspot.com/2010/0 ... cafes.html
I'm for transit-adjacent amenities! Anything that makes my life as a transit user easier.
FINALLY. It appears that there was a little bit of a delay with getting this project rolling but it sounds like it is now all set to get started later this year. Here's the KMOV link with an update.
http://www.kmov.com/news/local/Work-on- ... &c=y&img=4
http://www.kmov.com/news/local/Work-on- ... &c=y&img=4
Does anybody here know if all the dirt that's been brought in between Compton and Grand is for this project? There are at least a few acres worth of dirt that have been dumped on empty parcels between Compton and Grand a few blocks south of Chouteau.
I noticed yesterday that there appears to be some heavy machinery in the area as well.
I noticed yesterday that there appears to be some heavy machinery in the area as well.
From the KMOV story:
Perhaps somebody shouldn't have torn down Spring Street...The city also wants to make improvements to the suggested alternative routes, Compton and Vandeventer, before closing a bridge that carries 30,000 cars a day, Bradley said.
The year-long project will likely cause headaches for SLU students navigating between the medical and main campus, as well as commuters who use the Grand Metrolink station, which will close for the duration of the project. The train service will still run under the bridge and will not alter.
- 2,005
The bridge on Spring Street was closed to traffic for some time before they tore it down.
- 11K
It shouldn't have been closed to traffic and it shouldn't have been torn down.brickandmortar wrote:The bridge on Spring Street was closed to traffic for some time before they tore it down.
Wasn't it closed because it was about to collapse?Alex Ihnen wrote:It shouldn't have been closed to traffic and it shouldn't have been torn down.brickandmortar wrote:The bridge on Spring Street was closed to traffic for some time before they tore it down.
- 11K
Sheesh....OK, it shouldn't have been allowed to deteriorate, it shouldn't have been closed to traffic and it shouldn't have been torn down.Aron wrote:Wasn't it closed because it was about to collapse?Alex Ihnen wrote:It shouldn't have been closed to traffic and it shouldn't have been torn down.brickandmortar wrote:The bridge on Spring Street was closed to traffic for some time before they tore it down.
This news story is the first time I've heard it explicitly stated the the Grand Metrolink station will be closed for the duration of construction. Is this accurate? If so, what is Metro's plan for dealing with the huge number of people who use the Grand 70 bus/Metrolink connection for getting around? Are we just out of luck for a year?
Metro will rerouted the #70 and at least one other bus line to pick up passengers at either Central West End or Union Station. It will function similarly to a bus bridge, but within normal operations.
Courtney
Courtney
Courtney, thanks for the information. Just for clarification, are you saying the #70 Grand itself will be stopping at one of those alternate Metro stations, or will there be some connecting transfer required?
The 70 itself will be rerouted. Metro's Planning Dept. estimates that it will add about 5 minutes to your trip to do this reroute. We wouldn't just strand our passengers, don't worry!
Also, the MetroLink Station won't close until the project actually starts, so until the City is ready to demo the bridge your commute will continue as normal. The official start date on the project has moved from July 1 to Sept. 1 and will likely slip some more. This is not the City's fault; the rules they operate under (imposed by the federal highway dollars they receive) require every last bit of real estate to be acquired before they can finalized their design and construction plans. Once the real estate is squared away, this thing is set to move!
Also, the MetroLink Station won't close until the project actually starts, so until the City is ready to demo the bridge your commute will continue as normal. The official start date on the project has moved from July 1 to Sept. 1 and will likely slip some more. This is not the City's fault; the rules they operate under (imposed by the federal highway dollars they receive) require every last bit of real estate to be acquired before they can finalized their design and construction plans. Once the real estate is squared away, this thing is set to move!
That's awesome! An extra 5 minutes on the bus is no big deal, waiting around outside for an additional transfer would be much more of a hassle. Glad to hear you're taking the additional steps to make this as painless as possible. Thanks, Metro!
- 2,929
Rich Bradley, chief engineer for the City, gives a project overview on Mayor Slay's website:
Source: http://mayorslay.com/blog/post.php?postID=17248By the end of this summer, the Board of Public Service, HDR, Inc. and O.R. Colan & Associates will be completing the design and Right Of Way acquisition for the new $25M Grand Blvd. Viaduct project between Chouteau to the south and the I-64 Ramps on the north. This project will replace the existing viaduct that was constructed in 1959. The new bridge will be a series of three bridges with retained fill sections between them. These retained fill sections between the bridges and on the approaches will contain approximately 30,000 cubic yards of expanded polystyrene blocks as fill due to the predominance of saturated clay soils underlying the Mill Creek Valley.
The new bridge will be 96 feet wide, which is 16 feet wider than the existing bridge. It will have four 12 foot lanes (2 in each direction), two 6 foot bicycle lanes (1 in each direction) and a 13 foot separated sidewalk on each side. The new bridge will also have a raised and irrigated 9 foot wide center median that will be landscaped and maintained by St. Louis University.
MetroLink will also be rebuilding the Grand Ave. station in conjunction with the new Grand Blvd. Viaduct Project. In order to accommodate the Metro buses, a 150 long, 10 foot wide bus turnout lane will be constructed above the new MetroLink Station.
Architecturally, the bridge will have decorative concrete, railings and new lighting. The key architectural feature will be bump out areas on the four corners of the bridge for the installation of 57 feet high decorative towers constructed of brick and steel. These towers will be reminiscent of those on the original bridge structure at this location.
During the construction, the primary detour routes will be Compton, Vandeventer and Jefferson.
The project is scheduled to be completed in 12 months after the beginning of construction pending any weather delays.
- 1,218
Is the purpose of the polystyrene to only provide support under the bridges? Will the brick/steel decorative towers have the green SLU toppers? SLU will be maintaining the plants in the median...I wonder if they'll plant palm trees like they did on Grand between Cardinal Glennon and the main hospital.
Gone Corporate wrote:Rich Bradley, chief engineer for the City, gives a project overview on Mayor Slay's website:
Source: http://mayorslay.com/blog/post.php?postID=17248The new bridge will also have a raised and irrigated 9 foot wide center median that will be landscaped and maintained by St. Louis University.
Mark, I share your reservations. Putting SLU in charge of landscaping makes me nervous. I've been meaning to create a photo tour of SLU's worst design and tackiest sculptures. Maybe that will be my project this week and next.
I mean, these are the people who placed at the center of their campus a kidney-shaped fountain with cement dolphins jumping out and who surrounded their artificial (and artificially blue) ponds with statuary that looks like it was cast out from someone's grandma's back yard.
- 339
Outside of the palm trees, the numerous fountains, and questionable sculptures, I've always thought SLU did a decent job with their landscaping. If they can keep the three aforementioned eyesores from the median, I have hope.
- 11K
^ If nothing else they do spend enough to keep things looking...clean?
^This is true. And though I hate the palm trees they have around the swimming pool on the Frost Campus (called SLUruba. Yes, really), I find myself a little bit impressed with their dedication to the (tacky) theme: they plant palm trees every spring and haul them away to an undisclosed location (I think it's actually MoBot) every fall.