Live Chats

Questions about road construction or potholes? Ask the Road Crew, 1 p.m. Wednesday

Ask the experts from the Missouri Department of Transportation, St. Louis and St. Charles counties and St. Louis City your questions about highways and roads. The live chat starts at 1 p.m. on Wednesday.

3rd & 7 37yd

Looking at how 40/64 was redesigned, how you’re redoing the Jefferson on/off ramp area and the 270 re-design is it safe to say there is a trend with MODOT to utilize and create feeder roads on the sides of highways to maximize safety, fit in as many exits and allow for greater entry/exit areas for cars?

by Lando 12/2/2020 4:12:56 PM
I wouldn't necessary say that it is a design trend. As teams are designing projects, they look at the best way to get the most traffic moving through a particular area. Sometimes outer roads can help meet those needs. Andrew Gates, MoDOT Communications

by Andrew Gates, MoDOT 12/2/2020 4:12:57 PM
Is the east bound lanes of the Meramec River Bridge Project (Hwy 44) still scheduled to open this year? It seems there has been little activity the last few weeks.

by Commuter 12/2/2020 4:16:20 PM
Yes, we are still anticipating moving traffic to the new eastbound bridge before the end of the year. Andrew Gates, MoDOT Communications

by Andrew Gates, MoDOT 12/2/2020 4:16:20 PM
Do MODOT maintenance districts have "pothole patrols"? That is, for example, a one-two person team whose primary duty it is to pro-actively search out and identify roads needing repair? Or does MODOT primarily rely on citizens reporting hazardous road conditions? Why not seek citizen volunteers to become "pothole patrollers", train them, and assign them specific areas to be periodically monitored (a low-no cost method of improving road conditions in a budget-restricted environment)?

by Joe Gravish 12/2/2020 4:42:24 PM
We rely on reports from both the public, and from our team (including our emergency response operators, who are out on the roadway every day). The challenge is that in certain conditions, potholes can form fairly quickly, and with more than 6,000 miles of state-maintained roadway just in the greater St. Louis area, it would be challenging, at best, to be able to find every pothole (or potentially emerging pothole) in the region.That's why it is helpful for the residents to report potential potholes that they see -- there are more than 2 million sets of eyes that could report/share what they see in the greater St. Louis area. Since we have live 24/7 customer service, it's also fairly easy to call our team at 314-275-1500 (or 1-888-ASK-MODOT (275-6636) to report an issue. Andrew Gates, MoDOT Communications

by Andrew Gates, MoDOT 12/2/2020 4:42:24 PM
On eastbound I-44 just past Hwy 141, there is an electric sign that is misleading and serves no safe purpose. It reads "3 MIN NEXT 4 MILES". That is 80 MPH! I have seen it read "2MIN NEXT 4 MILES". That is 120 MPH! This sign is a short distance before the radar assisted flashing speed limit sign for 50 MPH and the sharp lane shifts at the construction of the bridge over the Meramec River. How about changing the sign to read 3 minutes next TWO miles or simply "Reduced Speed Ahead"?

by KatesKar 12/2/2020 7:06:58 PM
You are correct; signs should not be encouraging travel faster than the posted speed limits. I have passed it along to our construction team to see if they can make some changes. Andrew Gates, MoDOT Communications

by Andrew Gates, MoDOT 12/2/2020 7:06:58 PM
Regarding the widespread street sign replacement in St. Louis County, why bother now? It's not as if most of these signs are damaged. With tax revenues reduced, this seems like an irresponsible project right now.

by Five Man Electrical Band 12/2/2020 7:07:47 PM
We're installing these new street signs in accordance with nationally accepted standards for road placards. These new signs contain a different font that enhances motorists' ability to read them. David Wrone, St. Louis County's Department of Transportation

by dwrone 12/2/2020 7:07:49 PM
I have a suggestion. I noticed in both Ladue and Clayton on Clayton rd when doing road repair the temporary traffic signs were placed often directly in the middle of the sidewalk. This makes it very difficult for those of us riding bikes or pushing stollers on the sidewalk. In most cases just moving it partially onto the grass would have solved the issue both for pedestrians and motorists. Hope you can pass that message along . Thanks for all you do

by michael isserman 12/2/2020 7:09:13 PM
I'll forward your observations to our Division of Construction. Thank you for sharing them. David Wrone, St. Louis County's Department of Transportation

by dwrone 12/2/2020 7:09:15 PM
are we live

by michael isserman 12/2/2020 7:22:13 PM
Yes, Members of the road crew are available. Andrew Gates, MoDOT Communications

by Andrew Gates, MoDOT 12/2/2020 7:22:13 PM
Who is responsible for lights in St. Louis County neighborhoods? (Unincorporated area) We have a few in ours that are dim or not working. Thanks!

by Tom 12/2/2020 7:33:28 PM
Ameren would most likely maintain them. St. Louis County maintains only a handful of street lights. However, please email me the names of the streets in question at dwrone@stlouisco.com. I'll check and see if the lights belong to us. David Wrone, St. Louis County's Department of Transportation

by dwrone 12/2/2020 7:33:29 PM
Mr. Gates,

In the recent past I have complained about the signal coordination regarding the tandem signals for I-55 at Reavis Barracks Road. You advised that changes were being made to the timing.

The new timing is in place, and, in my opinion, it has made matters worse. The signal on the west side of the highway now gives a lagging left turn. The left turn arrow comes on during peak times seven days a week, whether cars are in the left turn lane, or not. It appears to be pre-timed.

A lot of tweaking is needed. Thank you.

by M 12/2/2020 7:35:20 PM
Thank you for sharing your thoughts on these signals. I have passed them along to our traffic team for review. Andrew Gates, MoDOT Communications

by Andrew Gates, MoDOT 12/2/2020 7:35:21 PM
David W - Earlier this morning, I ran an errand and noticed that St. Louis County Transportation was replacing sidewalk pieces but using asphalt instead of concrete. Is the asphalt temporary due to the cold weather? It looks bad having concrete sidewalks throughout the entire subdivision and then have a few pieces of black asphalt. Thanks!

by Tom 12/2/2020 7:36:24 PM
Cold temps could very well be the reason for our crews' use of asphalt. (Concrete won't properly 'set' in colder weather.) I'll run your hypothesis by our Operations group, and report back next week. David Wrone, St. Louis County's Department of Transportation

by dwrone 12/2/2020 7:36:24 PM
You might want to let michael isserman know that, by and large, it is illegal to ride a bicycle on a public sidewalk. I’ve only seen various local ordinances that allow bicycle riding on public sidewalks only by children in residential areas—i.e, kids playing in their own neighborhood. Most everywhere, bicycles are treated as vehicles and the same laws apply to them. Thanks!

by lurker 12/2/2020 7:39:44 PM
Thank you for sharing your comment. Andrew Gates, MoDOT Communications

by Andrew Gates, MoDOT 12/2/2020 7:39:44 PM
On EB Eager in Brentwood at the stoplight for the Dierbergs/Homegoods shopping center the pavement is buckled.

by Steve K 12/2/2020 7:56:49 PM
We'll pass it along to our maintenance team to check out. Andrew Gates, MoDOT Communications

by Andrew Gates, MoDOT 12/2/2020 7:56:49 PM
Since I only comment about one week out of the month, I want to take this opportunity to wish Mr. Gates, Dave, Mr. Wilson, Beth O'Malley, the St. Charles representative (whose name I don't recall) and my fellow commenters a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

Staffing the Road Crew each week is greatly appreciated by me and many others.

by M 12/2/2020 7:57:28 PM
Thank you for your kind words. Andrew Gates, MoDOT Communications

by Andrew Gates, MoDOT 12/2/2020 7:57:29 PM
Thank you very much! Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you, as well. David Wrone, St. Louis County's Department of Transportation

by dwrone 12/2/2020 8:01:12 PM