By Matt Sepic, KWMU
St. Louis – A company hired to study the impact of the Highway 40 project said it is possible to rebuild the road and keep traffic moving during construction.
Marc Cutler of Cambridge Systematics says other roads near 40 will be able to handle more vehicles.
But he says at least four lanes on Highway 40 should stay open during the project.
"Our data show that it clearly is possible to build this project while keeping four lanes of traffic open," Cutler said. "There is enough excess capacity in the system, if properly managed and directed, to accommodate the overflow traffic that would look for new routes."
Cutler says reducing traffic to one lane in each direction would add an extra 67 hours a year to the average commute. Making that two lanes either way would increase commutes by 25 hours.
MoDOT is not obligated to implement the study results. But a spokeswoman says all ideas are on the table as the state selects a contractor.
Work is scheduled to begin early next year.