urbanSTL

Hmm, I guess MoDOT forgot to count inflation. I-64 rebuild is $140 million over budget.



Agency fears Highway 40 plan will be cut back

By Shane Graber

ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH

06/22/2006



The Highway 40 overhaul that Missouri officials have showcased for the past year is $140 million more bang than they have the bucks for, an independent analysis of the plans shows.



Research by East-West Gateway Council of Governments, the region's planning organization, shows that the advertised effort to rebuild St. Louis' most heavily used east-west route should actually cost $675 million. The Missouri Department of Transportation has vowed repeatedly not to exceed its $535 million budget.



That means MoDOT will either have to significantly scale back the project or break its vow, according to the analysis.



Earlier this month, MoDOT acknowledged to the Post-Dispatch that its plans to rebuild 12 miles from west of Spoede Road in Frontenac to Sarah Street in St. Louis was already at least $17 million short.



But that figure was based on federal documents that estimated the cost in 2003 dollars and without factoring in inflation



Link to Article

Residents air views at forum on highway

Erin Taylor

Of the Suburban Journals

Citizen Journal,Mid-County Journal,West County Journal

07/05/2006



The Missouri Department of Transportation says it has every intention of taking public opinion into consideration for the upcoming reconstruction of Highway 40 (Interstate 64).



The agency acknowledged during a public forum Tuesday, June 27, however, that the public would not be directly involved in deciding between plans submitted by two teams vying for the project.







Link to Article

tbspqr wrote:Article From STL Business Journal:

http://stlouis.bizjournals.com/stlouis/ ... 00^1335542



Mainly about the horrible status of bridges on the route... but an article none the less.

Those of us who don't subscribe to the business journal cannot read that article.

Add the last part "^1335542" to your browser's address box and the link goes to the full story.

sorry about that link issue

While they are rebuilding I-64 through town, why don't we demand that MODOT put the lanes going through Forest Park underground and give the city back the 1/6th of the South slice of Forest Park it took away many years ago. Back then park land was seen as free property. Now we know better.



If they can't give it back, perhaps the City should consider leasing that portion to a private Australian company who can charge tolls -- reimbursable to city residents.



The improvements to I-64 are largely designed to make the highway big-truck friendly, which it is not right now. The big truck lobby has always owned the Missouri legislature. So when the truck traffic on I-64 doubles, the traffic slowdowns will be much worse rather than better three years from now, since no new lanes are being added. I just drove through Nashville where they are upgrading ingress to downtown out to 10 lanes without closing any highways.

I think covering 40 along the park would be an absolutely fantastic idea! Just think of how Dogtown would be reconnected to the park! It seems that the 64/40 project is far along in the planning stages - though with the design/build concept it could be possible to make significant changes still. But what would happen at the Hapton interchange?



Also, I'm a bit confused about how 40 will become substantially more truck friendly. The focus of the project is upgrading interchanges, right? This is great for trucks who already use 40 and slow traffic when using a 10mph off ramp. If some trucks don't use 40 now because of congestion, why will they use it when congestion gets worse in the future - as is predicted by some?

Ihnen wrote:Also, I'm a bit confused about how 40 will become substantially more truck friendly. The focus of the project is upgrading interchanges, right? This is great for trucks who already use 40 and slow traffic when using a 10mph off ramp. If some trucks don't use 40 now because of congestion, why will they use it when congestion gets worse in the future - as is predicted by some?

Some of the current overpasses are very low -- too low for most big trucks, especially in the outer lanes. Ever notice that there are very few big trucks on 40? Especially East of 270. The new overpasses are designed to fix that problem for them.

From mayorslay.com

My office is also negotiating with the Missouri Department of Transportation for more land for Forest Park as part of the I-64 reconstruction project.

link

I believe the Mayor's post is referring the land that will be freed up as the interchange at Kingshighway is reduced in size. The new design takes up less land than the full cloverleaf.

Highway 40 revamp will have added touch of class

By Elisa Crouch

ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH

Sunday, Sep. 24 2006



Motorists speed along Highway 40 in a blur, focused more on getting to their

destinations than on enjoying the scenery.



Nonetheless, the Missouri Department of Transportation has made one thing clear

about its intent to rebuild a 12-mile section of Highway 40 (Interstate 64): It

wants to improve the view.



The department has let potential contractors know that the one-size-fits-all

look of round-columned overpasses just won't do. Nor will soundwalls without

patterns, or the patchwork of different bridge styles that characterize much of

St. Louis' interstate system.



Instead, the department has told prospective contractors in its request for

bids document that it wants Highway 40 between Sarah Street in St. Louis and

Spoede Road in Frontenac rebuilt in "streamline moderne" - a late art deco

style that reached its height in the late 1930s. It's reminiscent of Old Route

66, which runs along part of Highway 40. It's characterized by strong

horizontal lines, some nautical elements and simplicity.



The Compton Avenue/Market Street overpass rebuilt over Highway 40 this summer

is an example.



Entire Article

Cool - I think that 'streamline moderne' not having a big presence in StL is a plus - I guess the real plus is that it's a period design that fits with a 'parkway'. I don't think it will be awe-inspiring, but it's good to hear that design will at least be considered.

glad to hear that, I like a lot of the art deco details on the older bridges. When they first built 40 there was a globe in the median at the Lindbergh exit commemorating Lindbergh's flight across the Atlantic...it would be cool if they could restore that.

The inclusion of streamlined art deco design in the project is not new information. If you follow this link you will find a website with detailed information on the I-64 project. I don't know if it has been posted here in the past (I first came across the site over a year ago), but I didn't feel like looking through the whole thread. The site includes pictures of exsisting conditions, original photos, and renderings of possible desings. If you go to the interactive map you can find detailed information on every interchange that will be affected.



http://www.thenewi64.org

The article says the Compton Avenue/Market Street overpass rebuilt over Hwy 40 this summer is an example of what they are going to do.



Does anyone have clear picture of this overpass?

From the PD story . . .







IMO - I don't know that I would call this bridge 'deco moderne,' but I did notice that it's better than what it replaced.

Yeah, that bridge looks pretty standard to me. I don't get it. Maybe I need to see it in real life?

Expat wrote:Yeah, that bridge looks pretty standard to me. I don't get it. Maybe I need to see it in real life?

Probably - it looks pretty good in person. It's classy and modern in an understated kind of way.

I really like the new compton bridge... I love the black lettering and fence... That stretch of highway will be beautiful when completed (highway bashers pile on). I wish all of the light posts, signs, street signal polls etc were all black.. much better looking IMO

Whether or not you like highways, it shouldn't matter...good looking design is important. Even on highways. That bridge is good design, I hope the rest of the new 64 looks as good.

Good to hear that esthetics are being considered for a change. It doesn't cost that much more to put a couple of design elements in the concrete.

The latest from MODOT - the short = proposals due Oct 20, decision made/announced Nov 17.



****************************************



The selection of the I-64 Design-Build contractor is quickly approaching and we are pleased to announce we remain on schedule. The final proposals are due from the two Design-Build teams on October 20. MoDOT will review and evaluate the sections of the proposals, including schedule, scope of work, maintenance of traffic, public information and Disadvantaged Business Enterprise and workforce goals.



We anticipate making a recommendation of the Apparent Best Value Proposer to the Missouri Highways and Transportation Commission at its November 17 meeting in St. Louis. As this is a negotiated contract, it will be discussed in Closed Session after the regular Open Session of the meeting. Later in the day, a news conference will be held regarding the Commission?s decision.



You will be informed as we have additional information. As always for more information, please visit our project website at http:\\www.thenewi64.org.



Linda Wilson

I-64 Community Relations Manager

MoDOT, St Louis