Live Chats

A few weeks ago I noted problematic stoplight timing along westbound Olive Blvd (MO-340) at the Warson, Bayer/Danforth, and Old Olive St Rd intersection, which are all very close together. The response from MoDOT was that some timing adjustment had been made and then revised. However, last night during evening rush hour (~5:45 pm) it was still the case that when Warson goes green, Bayer/Danforth goes red, and then when Bayer/Danforth goes green Old Olive St Rd goes red a few second later. This has not been fixed, and all cars going westbound have to stop at a minimum of 2 of the 3 lights in this short sequence. This is inefficient, annoying, and causes backups during evening rush hour. Is this really necessary? Cars are staring to figure out that if they floor it when Bayer/Danforth turns green then they may make it through Old Olive St Rd just as it goes yellow, so this is also encouraging unsafe driving behavior. You really need to fix this, forcing drivers to stop multiple times at lights so close together is poor traffic design. On a related note, last night (5:50 pm) and this morning (7:20 am) the lights at Craig Rd and Office Parkway (just to the east of Craig) were completely out of phase. When Office Parkway goes green, Craig goes red, and vice versa. In both directions cars have to stop at at least one light, and after two, and this has also messed up traffic staying synchronized with the linked green light pattern going eastbound. It looks like the Office Parkway light timing is off. Can this be fixed? There is certainly no reason for this during morning rush hour, and it does not appear to be needed in the evening as well, at least not by 5:50 pm when I went though it. Westbound traffic backed up well past Mosely last night, and the current traffic map shows a backup here as well.

Portions of South Grand, beginning at the Chateau intersection, going all the way up to 44 are quickly turning into horrible condition for driving. I noticed one lane in each direction has been closed to work on the not very old median. Once work is complete on median, are there plans to repair this portion of Grand? The uneven surfaces, crumbling road, and potholes cause cars to drive at all different speeds with abrupt braking, swerving, and driving in the bike lane to avoid potholes. It is not a safe portion of Grand given all of the traffic that goes through that stretch. Additionally, some of the bushes in the medians are way too tall and hide oncoming traffic from drivers thinking they can make a left turn across traffic. This is most noticeable at the Starbucks and Ruler Foods.

STL County, two questions: what is the timelime for completing paving on Clayton between Bellevue and Big Bend? The entrance to St. Rita (north side of Clayton) remains rough, as does the strip mall entrance just east of the Esquire theatre.

Second, the contractor in charge of the Big Bend pipe project has numerous asphalt patches that have sunk to the point they are causing damage similar to a pothole. I have two bent rims which will set me back $300. Not happy with the quality of work and length of time to complete it. Must be nice for their workers having bankers hours while the public fights the traffic and damage on a daily basis. I contacted your department about a rough spot in the right lane of northbound Big Bend just a few feet north of Manchester a week ago and yet it remains one of many.

Last night during rush hour we again had a traffic nightmare going south on Lindbergh. These problems seemed to have begun when Kirkwood started “fooling” with their lights. Now the lights at Big Bend and Kirkwood Commons are once again out of sync. I know you don’t control Kirkwood but it would be nice if they worked with you. Traffic was so backed up you couldn’t even see back to where the backup ended. Thanks for holding these chats every week.

I have a question about Country Landing Dr. in O'Fallon, MO between Theresa Fields and Rte N. It has major potholes, especially where it meets Rte. N, plus crumbling sides and various other potholes. Are there any plans to address these issues?