Where else would you suggest putting a bike lane on a bridge?wheelfru wrote:Uh, where's the much-vaunted bike lane? If they're pulling a paint-a-bicycle-on-the-shoulder move like on the Jefferson bridge, I'll be very disappointed. Someone should send the engineers in charge over these bridges on bikes.
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I'd guess as a separate bike lane....something like thismill204 wrote:Where else would you suggest putting a bike lane on a bridge?wheelfru wrote:Uh, where's the much-vaunted bike lane? If they're pulling a paint-a-bicycle-on-the-shoulder move like on the Jefferson bridge, I'll be very disappointed. Someone should send the engineers in charge over these bridges on bikes.
Vancouver does an amazing job with bike lanes & catering to cyclists. They even have some left turn lanes just for bikers.
Beacon article on the re-opening. As said before, there are some things that could have been done differently. To the casual observer however, the bridge looks infinitely more inviting and safe. I just wish they would plant some legitimate trees in the center median instead of the "planters" on the rest of Grand Avenue.
https://www.stlbeacon.org/#!/content/25 ... rpage=1199
https://www.stlbeacon.org/#!/content/25 ... rpage=1199
Yes, either separated from traffic with Jersey barriers or with a separate shoulder outside the bike lane (so from center to curb: auto lane, bike lane, shoulder, curb, sidewalk). Unless they're well maintained (read: swept regularly), which I'm certain this won't be, shoulders collect all kinds of sharp and unpleasant debris from the roadway. Bike down the Jefferson bridge "bike lane" or the Chouteau bridge shoulder; they are not clear pathways.
Partial opening today!
From program manager Stephanie Doss:
The Grand Avenue Viaduct will open to traffic at 3:00 PM on Friday 7/13/12. The temporary northbound left turn onto Chouteau will be eliminated & will revert to a through lane. The painted left turn arrows will be removed by tomorrow & will be replaced with straight arrows and MoDOT will install no left turn signs. Left turns are allowable for southbound Grand onto Chouteau. Pedestrian access will be maintained on both sides of the bridge once we open for traffic.
MoDOT will finish resurfacing of the Eastbound I-64 exit lane at Grand tonight & will paint an island at the intersection of the ramp to delineate the right & left turn lanes. Metro will install construction fencing at the stair & elevator towers to keep secure from the public. They will also be placing cones along the bus turnouts to keep traffic from pulling into the turnouts & to provide parking for their construction vehicles.
Roadway operations will consist of two open lanes for northbound traffic for the AM rush and will flip over to two open lanes southbound for the PM rush. Lane drops will be in place for southbound to facilitate early morning rush then lane drops for both directions after 9:00 AM. At about 2:30 - 3:00 PM southbound lane drops will be removed for the PM rush. Detour signs will remain along the detour route until after the formal dedication ceremony.
Work remaining to be done after the bridge opens consists of finishing the towers, minor concrete work, and irrigation/splash guards/landscaping of the median. There is also some work to be done under the bridge but it will not affect traffic. We expect the work to be completed by the end of August with the exception of some of the plantings due to hot weather restrictions.
From program manager Stephanie Doss:
The Grand Avenue Viaduct will open to traffic at 3:00 PM on Friday 7/13/12. The temporary northbound left turn onto Chouteau will be eliminated & will revert to a through lane. The painted left turn arrows will be removed by tomorrow & will be replaced with straight arrows and MoDOT will install no left turn signs. Left turns are allowable for southbound Grand onto Chouteau. Pedestrian access will be maintained on both sides of the bridge once we open for traffic.
MoDOT will finish resurfacing of the Eastbound I-64 exit lane at Grand tonight & will paint an island at the intersection of the ramp to delineate the right & left turn lanes. Metro will install construction fencing at the stair & elevator towers to keep secure from the public. They will also be placing cones along the bus turnouts to keep traffic from pulling into the turnouts & to provide parking for their construction vehicles.
Roadway operations will consist of two open lanes for northbound traffic for the AM rush and will flip over to two open lanes southbound for the PM rush. Lane drops will be in place for southbound to facilitate early morning rush then lane drops for both directions after 9:00 AM. At about 2:30 - 3:00 PM southbound lane drops will be removed for the PM rush. Detour signs will remain along the detour route until after the formal dedication ceremony.
Work remaining to be done after the bridge opens consists of finishing the towers, minor concrete work, and irrigation/splash guards/landscaping of the median. There is also some work to be done under the bridge but it will not affect traffic. We expect the work to be completed by the end of August with the exception of some of the plantings due to hot weather restrictions.
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Had the opportunity to drive over the viaduct this weekend.... I assume that the "bike lane" will be along the shoulder with the pavement marked as the inside lanes are opened. The bus pull-off and overhang will be a big help. Visually, the "tower" enhancements seem understated and not very tall. The brick base does stand out as a What. We'll see how the details work themselves out once it and the Metrolink are fully open and landscaping is in, but it is definitely an improvement over the old situation.
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Seems to be a lot of backslapping on this one - lots of congratulations, etc. - and IMO for just making the bridge better. It's as if no one's allowed to say it falls short in any way.roger wyoming II wrote:it is definitely an improvement over the old situation.
Okay, so it's open, officially, grandly, ribbons cut and everything. Work has been finished. No bike lanes. What the hell, guys.