By H. Wicai, KWMU
St. Louis, Mo. – Mayor Francis Slay, former Senator John Danforth and other St. Louis civic leaders marked a significant milestone this morning at the Gateway Arch.
Arch designer Eero Saarinen's vision for a grand staircase leading to the landmark is complete.
The Mayor says because of the Arch, the City has one of the most recognizable skylines of any city in the world.
With this completion of the steps it allows us to do a better job in having special events here on the riverfront, to showcase the Arch and to bring people closer to downtown.
The staircase will also be used as amphitheater-like seating at riverfront events.
The $2.5 million project required 842 tons of concrete.