By Rachel Lippmann, KWMU
St. Louis – Big Bend Road was closed at Interstate 64 Monday morning, and contractors began tearing down the overpass there to make way for a new bridge.
Big Bend will be closed for six months. For part of that time, Hanley Road will remain closed as well, leaving Brentwood Boulevard and McCausland Ave. as the main north-south routes across the highway in that area.
Project spokeswoman Linda Wilson said the dual closures were unavoidable.
"The old bridge is actually in the way," Wilson said. "The highway is being widened a little bit, and moved a little bit to the north, so the northern edge of the current Big Bend bridge is actually in the way of the pavement."
Big Bend will re-open December 1. When the rest of the highway opens later that month, the new interchange will allow drivers to enter and exit Big Bend and Interstate 64 in all directions.