By Adam Allington, KWMU
St. Louis, Mo. – Drivers on Kingshighway at I-64/Highway 40 will face lane restrictions, starting tonight (Thursday), and the city is pleading with commuters to use alternate routes.
The restrictions are part of a six-month, $7 million reconstruction of the interchange at Kingshighway.
At 7:00 tonight (Thur.), Kingshighway will narrow to one lane in each direction so crews can repaint lanes. Friday morning and afternoon rush hour will see two lanes open each way, and will mostly stay that way for the next six months.
Temporary stop lights have also been added at the interchange, along with temporary exit and entrance ramps to I-64.
Ed Waelterman, who heads the city Streets Department, says alternate routes might be longer, but are almost certain to be quicker.
"You have to use these alternative routes," Waelterman declared Wednesday. "Come in off Forest Park when you're coming from Illinois, jump on there off 64, you should have easy sailing. We have to use those alternatives, McCausland on the other end, even Grand Avenue."
Waelterman says ambulances going to and from BJC and other nearby hospitals can access preemptive routes with green light controls.
The city has also installed signal detection equipment that will allow side streets to make adjustments for more green time based on traffic flow.
Other preparations the city has made include:
- Removing parking meters on Kingshihgway to add lanes.
- Opening Wells Avenue at Skinker and Clayton Avenue at Kingshighway to westbound traffic. Both roads are inside Forest Park.
- Open city Streets Department dispatch center 24 hours a day, seven days a week to allow for rapid response to issues as they arise.
- Resurfacing Kingshighway, Vandeventer, and McCausland to avoid filling potholes on what will be extra busy roads. Kingshighway Lane Restrictions-Wrap Kill: 05/31 AM 05/30 aa