See news release below. All through-traffic commercial vehicles are encouraged to detour via I-270 or I-170 and I-64 to avoid the downtown closure and commuter traffic detour. MoDOT closes I-70 downtown this weekend ST. LOUIS - Cardinal fans heading to Winter Warm-up or other motorists heading into downtown may want to consider using I-64, I-55 or I-44 this weekend. The Missouri Department of Transportation will close all lanes of I-70 downtown between Pine Street and the Poplar Street Bridge starting at 8 p.m. Friday, January 17, weather permitting. All interstate lanes are projected to reopen by 5 a.m. Monday, January 20. This weekends interstate closure will let crews demolish the Walnut Street Bridge as part of preparations for the CityArchRiver Park Over the Highway project. The detour for the eastbound interstate closure will be to take the Pine Street exit, follow southbound Memorial Drive and get on either the Poplar Street Bridge or I-55/I-44. The detour for the westbound interstate will be to exit onto northbound Memorial Drive and continue on 3rd Street to the ramp to westbound I-70 at the Martin Luther King Bridge. The Eads Bridge will also be closed while the interstate is closed to ensure that interstate traffic moves smoothly. Walnut Street over the interstate is scheduled to be closed at 7 p.m. Thursday, January 16 . It will remain closed until early April as crews build a wider bridge. Detours will be marked for people heading to the Old Cathedral while Walnut Street over I-70 is closed. After all the interstate lanes reopen, drivers should pay attention as they travel on I-70 and Memorial Drive on Monday, as several ramps will change. MoDOT will open a new ramp from westbound I-70 to northbound Memorial near Pine. This will be the new way for motorists on I-55 and I-70 to access the downtown area. The ramp will exit to northbound Memorial, and drivers should use the new U-turn ramp before Washington to get to southbound Memorial. From Memorial, motorists can turn right onto Pine to get into downtown. Additionally, the department will permanently close the ramp from westbound Poplar Street Bridge to Memorial. Motorists who use that ramp will need to get onto westbound I-70 and take the new ramp. The work is part of the overall improvements to access between downtown and the interstate as part of the Park Over the Highway project. Crews will continue to work around Memorial Drive and the interstate ramps near Pine this winter and spring. It is a portion of CityArchRiver 2015, a transformational project that will enhance the Gateway Arch experience for all visitors. The project will create a seamless park experience from the city to the Mississippi River, providing visitors with a more vibrant and safer place to visit, enjoy, and return. This work will not significantly impact access to the Gateway Arch, which remains open during construction.
Posted on: Fri, 17 Jan 2014 18:35:27 +0000