The University continues to analyze various strategies to lessen the Interstate 64/Highway 40 reconstruction project’s impact on students, employees and patients following the Missouri Department of Transportation’s selection of Gateway Constructors as the design-build contractor.
The $535 million project will rebuild I-64 from west of Spoede Road to east of Kingshighway Boulevard, including rebuilding the pavement, bridges and 12 interchanges in between. In addition, one lane will be added in each direction from west of Spoede to Interstate 170.
The project involves rebuilding the I-64/I-170 interchange in 2007, which will result in off-peak-hour closures on I-64 and I-170 and reducing I-170 from three lanes to two at I-64; closing I-64 completely from Ballas Road to Brentwood Boulevard and rebuilding interchanges in that area in 2008; and closing I-64 completely from Hanley Road east to Kingshighway and rebuilding interchanges in that area in 2009. By Dec. 31, 2009, all lanes on I-64 and I-170 are expected to be completed and open, with final work complete by July 31, 2010. Landscaping should be complete by the end of October 2010.
To help ease traffic on alternate routes, MoDOT will stripe an additional lane in each direction on Interstates 70 and 44. It also will upgrade signals on Page Avenue, Olive Boulevard, Manchester Road and Lindbergh Boulevard to improve traffic flow.
University faculty, staff, students and patients need to start thinking now about alternative routes or modes of transportation.
Benefits-eligible employees and full-time students can renew the Metro Universal Pass for the spring semester, which provides free access to the MetroLink and MetroBus services. Those interested in obtaining a spring pass can apply online at the Parking and Transportation Services Web site at parking.wustl.edu.
A Metro system map, schedules, addresses of MetroLink stations and a list of those with commuter park-ride lots are listed at metrostlouis.org/metrolink/stationlist.asp.
In addition, employees and students can use the RideFinders regional rideshare program, carpool with co-workers or bicycle or walk to the two campuses.
James P. Crane, M.D., associate vice chancellor for clinical affairs, chief executive officer of the Faculty Practice Plan and leader of a WUSTL-BJC joint task force addressing the highway shutdown, said the task force will continue working with MoDOT, administrators and clinical managers to provide visitors and patients with information to make their trips to both campuses and physicians’ offices as smooth as possible.
Gateway Constructors, a group of about 10 contractors, and MoDOT have put in place several measures to assist motorists during the construction, which is scheduled to begin in spring 2007.
The project Web site, www.thenewi64.org, is updated regularly and allows motorists to sign up for e-mailed updates on the construction schedule.
Once the project begins, the site will have an interactive map that will allow motorists to enter their starting point and destination to get alternate routes.
In addition, once the contract with Gateway Constructors is finalized, the group plans to hold informational open houses for the public to ask questions and see construction maps.
The Gateway Guide cameras, sensors and message boards will operate inside the Interstate 270 loop at all times, providing travel times on all of the area’s interstates. These are available online at gatewayguide.com.
The team also plans to set up a 511 telephone number for motorists to get traffic updates and travel times and to maintain electronic message boards on the highways that will provide traffic advisories.