Due to inclement weather, the closure of the northbound Interstate 55 entrance ramp from Union Road has been postponed. The ramp will remain open through the weekend of July 9-11. A date to close the ramp will be announced in the near future.

Project Update: July 8, 2010

Northbound I-55 entrance ramp from Union Road closes Friday, July 9

The Missouri Department of Transportation and its contractor Fred Weber, Inc., will close the northbound Interstate 55 entrance ramp from Union Road starting at 6 a.m. Friday, July 9, 2010.

The ramp closure is needed for the construction of the new Union Road bridge. Motorists are advised to use the northbound I-55 entrance ramp at Reavis Barracks Road as a detour.

The far left lane on both northbound and southbound Interstate 55 at Union Road will remain closed until mid-July for construction of the new bridge support beams in the median of Interstate 55.

I-55 at Union Road looking northbound

Project Background

The Union bridges over Interstate 55, the pedestrian bridge at Holly Hills and the pedestrian bridge near Delor Street were all built in the early 1960’s. The side- by- side bridges over Union Road have deteriorated beyond the point of simply repairing the bridges and the structures need to be completely replaced. The clearances of the Union bridges over Interstate 55 have also been points of concern and the bridges have suffered damage from trucks striking the bridge supports. The pedestrian bridges near Holly Hills Avenue and near Delor Street has little use due to other pedestrian options in the area, and will be removed.

Project Maps and Information

Fact Sheet (2 pages, 432 kb)

Construction Actions (1 page, 28.0 kb)

Maps (2 pages, 536 kb)

More Facts (1 page, 28.0 kb)

Planned Project Improvements

Removing and replacing the two Union bridges over Interstate 55. These bridges will be built in the same location with a higher clearance (9”inches higher) over the interstate to meet current Federal Highway standards.

Removing the pedestrian bridges on Interstate 55 north of Delor and north of Holly Hills.

Replacement of the existing Interstate lighting along Interstate 55 within the limits of the City of St. Louis.

Replacement of the signals at Interstate 55 and Loughborough.

Construction Impacts on Union Road and Interstate 55 Drivers

Union Road between Spring and Hoffmeister will be closed in early 2010 through the end of 2010. The detour for the west side of Union Road (Spring Road side) will be the Bayless Road intersection. The detour for the east side of Union Road (Hoffmeister Road side) will be Reavis Barracks intersection.

Northbound Interstate 55 on-ramp from Union will be closed during some phases on construction. During the Interstate 55 northbound on- ramp closure, traffic will access Interstate 55 at the Reavis Barracks Road interchange.

Two Interstate 55 closures will be necessary for this project. The first interstate closure, expected in early 2010, will be for the demolition of the Union Road bridge. The detour for this closure will be Interstate 44 to Interstate 270. The closure for the Union Road demolition will be from Reavis Barracks Road to Bayless. The second Interstate 55 closure,expected in the summer of 2010, will be for the demolition of the pedestrian bridges north of Delor and the Holly Hills pedestrian bridge. The detour for the pedestrian bridge demolition will be Interstate 44 to Interstate 270. The closure for the pedestrian bridge north of Delor span from Bates to Broadway. Both interstate closures are scheduled to begin Friday after evening rush hour and be open to traffic by Monday prior to morning rush hour.

To Contact Us:

Project Manager: Shirley Norris

Phone: (314) 453– 5032

email: shirley.norris@modot.mo.gov

Area Engineer: Kristy Yates

Phone: (314) 565– 5281

email: kristy.yates@modot.mo.gov

Community Relations: Jack Wang

Phone: (314) 453-1809

email: jack.wang@modot.mo.gov