Live Chats

Questions about traffic lights or highway construction? Ask the Road Crew

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

The bridges on 44WB over Tower Grove and 39th already have sections that are already messed up. Like one end of it has settled lower. Should that be happening since these are new?

by io9jj 1/26/2022 5:17:12 PM
It does often happen. The bridge's foundation is typically into rock and the bridges don't move a lot (except for expansion and contraction) and the roadway is on a significant amount of fill. Even so, the roadway can sometimes settle (especially with the constant traffic and weight on it). Our crews monitor that and may go out and add some more concrete under the roadway, when necessary. Andrew Gates, MoDOT Communications

by Andrew Gates, MoDOT 1/26/2022 5:17:13 PM
To continue with the sinking pavement at overpasses and bridges. Why after all the years, hasn’t a solution has been discovered, building up the approach and exiting. After a couple of years of new construction, the pavement has a dip. Then it has to be fixed. Some smart engineer should have figured it out by now. Extra money being spent.

by boblynch831@gmail.com 1/26/2022 5:45:09 PM
Because at best, you might significantly minimize it, but there is no guarantee that you will eliminate it -- and the more you minimize it, the higher the cost. There are a lot of variables involved with roadway settling, and we are always looking at the newest innovations and technology in the business to see how we can most effectively use the funding entrusted to us. Andrew Gates, MoDOT Communications

by Andrew Gates, MoDOT 1/26/2022 5:45:09 PM
Do your traffic engineers study traffic flow after 5pm and before 7am? All locations in general and no specific locations.

by Rick 1/26/2022 5:47:22 PM
Absolutely -- any time we have a work zone, our engineers have taken a look at how the traffic will move (and we often have overnight work zones). That being said, most of the traffic moves during the 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. hours (between the start of morning rush and the general end of evening rush). Andrew Gates, MoDOT Communications

by Andrew Gates, MoDOT 1/26/2022 5:47:22 PM
Wildhorse Creek Road from Baxter to 109 is in very poor condition, too small for the traffic in the area and unsafe for bicycle travel. Is there a plan to upgrade this roadway?

by Ed 1/26/2022 6:15:28 PM
MoDOT maintains this roadway from Route 109 to Long Road and the county maintains it from Long Road to Baxter. At this time, we have some repair/resurfacing work planned for the roadway tentatively set for next year, but we have no plans for any major upgrades (such as adding lanes as you describe). The county has no plans for any improvements. David Wrone tells me the county's current pavement rating for this section of the road is a ‘5’ – on a 1 - 10 scale, with 10 being “perfect.” Andrew Gates, MoDOT Communications

by Andrew Gates, MoDOT 1/26/2022 6:15:29 PM
Thanks for doing this weekly chat and being responsive! Please widen Wildhorse from Long to 109 to accommodate bikes when you do the rework.

by Ed 1/26/2022 6:38:36 PM
I will pass your suggestion along, but there are no plans to further widen Wild Horse Creek Road as a part of the resurfacing and repair work. That would be well out of the funding available for this project to take care of the existing system. With no separate bike facilities on the corridor, cyclists wanting to use the roadway can use the lane. Andrew Gates, MoDOT Communications

by Andrew Gates, MoDOT 1/26/2022 6:38:36 PM
I had asked a question about the traffic light timing on Lindbergh at Conway. At 5 AM the light is still set for Conway to be the higher class of road. Has anyone had a chance to look at this yet?

by wttrash2 1/26/2022 6:57:28 PM
From what I am told, we are still waiting on equipment to come in to be able to make the repair and resolve this. Andrew Gates, MoDOT Communications

by Andrew Gates, MoDOT 1/26/2022 6:57:28 PM
Question for the City: On southbound Truman Parkway between Gratiot and Papin, AmerenUE has one lane of traffic blocked off for a construction project in front of their headquarters for a few months now. I have only seen workers out there one time. Any idea how long they will be allowed to block a traffic lane if they and/or their contractors are not interested in completing the job in a timely fashion?

by Downtown Worker 1/26/2022 7:03:10 PM
Thank you for bringing this issue to my attention. I'll consult with Ameren to receive a timeline for completion. Larry Tyler / Street & Traffic Liaison

by Street Department 1/26/2022 7:05:35 PM
Thanks for hosting these chats. I have an issue that I hope that the City can resolve. On northbound Macklind at the corner of Walsh, there is an apartment building in which the residents illegally park everyday. There are two no parking signs on Walsh, one of the utility pole, and the other about a car length after, but these are ignored daily. To prove my point, if you pull up the picture on Google Maps you can see an illegally parked car. In any event, can bollards be installed from the utility pole to the corner of Walsh to prevent this from happening? It is a hazard to drivers attempting to cross or turn at Macklind from Walsh. Thanks.

by South Hampton Resident 1/26/2022 7:09:00 PM
Thank you for bringing this to my attention. I'll visit location to see if corner clearance signage is in place. If so, I'll consider other options to remedy this issue. Larry Tyler / Street & Traffic Liaison

by Street Department 1/26/2022 7:12:48 PM
Jefferson Avenue between Chouteau and I-44 is in desperate need of restriping.

by GregL 1/26/2022 7:22:46 PM
Thanks for bringing this to my attention. With changes being made at I-44 & Jefferson (area-wide) by MoDot, restriping is scheduled for late spring. Larry Tyler / Street & Traffic Liaison

by Street Department 1/26/2022 7:26:27 PM
Do you know how the Water Division is going to have 59th Street between Arsenal & Scanlan torn up? I know it's a small street but it services a lot the residential neighborhood around there. When the Water Division is done, will the street be repaved or at least repaired?

by gpeg 1/26/2022 7:44:19 PM
I'll check on a timeline for completion of Water Division repair. I ask for patience, due to this being the ideal season for multiple water main breaks throughout the City of Saint Louis. The right of way will be restored upon completion of repair. Larry Tyler / Street & Traffic Liaison

by Street Department 1/26/2022 7:48:18 PM