urbanSTL

This might be old hat to everyone, but the Post-Dispatch published an infographic on the bridge and the surrounding road changes that I found informative.

I hadn't seen that graphic. Thanks for sharing!

Maybe the lack of an interchange from the "new" I-44 to the bridge is a good a sign for future tear down of that stretch. At least they didn't invest money connecting it.

Looking at the MoDOT 5 year plan for 2014-2019 there is no project for an connection there and a quick Crt F search thru the On the Move long range plans there isn't one there either , factor that with the funding issues MoDOT is in for I doubt it will ever be in the plans

Just realized they didn't put ramps from NB 55 to WB 70 so if we built the boulevard and you really didn't want to use it you can't cross the Popular and cross back on the Stan Bridge and vice versa.

quincunx wrote:Just realized they didn't put ramps from NB 55 to WB 70 so if we built the boulevard and you really didn't want to use it you can't cross the Popular and cross back on the Stan Bridge and vice versa.

You would just use the boulevard. There currently is no connection from NB 55 to WB 64 either.

Has anyone had an off the record conversation with Mayor Slay or his people? It seems like something he would support. I know there's "politics" to consider, but I feel like it's something people have avoided talking about.

dweebe wrote:

jstriebel wrote:I hadn't seen that graphic. Thanks for sharing!

Maybe the lack of an interchange from the "new" I-44 to the bridge is a good a sign for future tear down of that stretch. At least they didn't invest money connecting it.

That missing connection is very telling.

The likely reason is more they didn't build it due to very few people would use it anyway and that it would allow more traffic to go in another direction.

A related note, just me or is it a lot easier to go east-west in the metro area than north-south?

Just tried out the new Mississippi River bridge and have a few observations...

1. The ESL approach offers great views of the abandoned Armor Meat Packing plant in ESL.

2. The new Tucker Boulevard entrance from the bridge into downtown is quite nice.

3. The lack of a connection from the bridge to S. bound 55/west bound 44 on the Missouri side is a bit odd.

4. The approach from s. bound 55/w. bound 70 onto the bridge has a sort of weird backtracking feel to it. It seems they had to wind a long way around a lot of areas to connect to the bridge. I wonder if that will discourage use?

I wonder how many people coming to DT STL from IL will keep using the PSB or start using the new bridge?

deformative wrote:Has anyone had an off the record conversation with Mayor Slay or his people? It seems like something he would support. I know there's "politics" to consider, but I feel like it's something people have avoided talking about.

The impression I got talking to one of his aids (and from other reports) is that there just isn't any political will to worry about it until the Arch Grounds project is finished.

I hope the Mayor helps lead the charge when that's done.

The construction cameras are still on and from the looks of it the evening rush yesterday was very light.

I work downtown overnight so i decided to drive across the bridge this morning before i went to the gym.. A few observations. While driving on Tucker i noticed quite a few traffic signs knocked down but the road is very nice ..As i drove along i have to say that im very impressed by its size and the lighting is beautiful...Kind of interesting they dont have a west bound exit onto 64-55 heading back to St.Louis but i can understand that so i drove all the way to Illinois 111 to turn around ..This is what i actually thought coming back as i was speaking to a workout partner about the bridge. It felt a bit out of place where its located I wonder with all the money the state puts in with upkeep on the PSB why not build a new identical bridge for highway 55-64? I think if they did the very same bridge would be much more striking and close to downtown..I just think wasting/dumping all this money in the PSB they could save for replacing the PSB.. just my thought other than that very beautiful bridge and so glad we have it as part of our skyline...

I while back, I proposed a duplicate bridge for 44/55 immediately South of Anheiser Busch. Leave PSB for I-64 only. Then tear down the highway between the 44/55 merge and the PSB, and restore the street grid.

Rumor has it the street department is looking to add a left turn lane on eastbound Washington onto Northbound Tucker. Probably so people can get to the new bridge quicker. Sounds like a really really dumb idea and I am not sure how it would even work on a street that narrow.

How about people use Lucas, Delmar etc? We have a street grid!

^Exactly

speaking of bridges- hearing that IDOT is looking to start a study to replace Chain of Rocks Bridge (IDOT maintains that bridge and bills MoDOT for half of the work)

interstate i guess the "New" http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Chain_of_Rocks_Bridge

"The I-70 Corridor of the Future by FHWA is favoring the I-270 corridor in St. Louis which includes this bridge."