ST. LOUIS - As the days grow longer in May, the traffic and commutes are worsening on the major alternate roads to the I-64 closure.  A review of traffic and travel times and May shows a growing concern in the length of time it is taking to travel as motorists are shifting back to driving in the normal peak morning and evening travel times, especially on the major non-interstate roads.

"Motorists have changed their driving times back to pre-closure peak times. This compression has increased congestion," said Lesley Hoffarth, MoDOT I-64 project director.  "We are noticing large increases in travel times on Olive and on Route 141.  Motorists can cut their commute time almost in half by traveling in the hour before the peak hour."

Key trouble spots for peak morning congestion include:

• Olive from I-270 to I-170
• Route 141 from Route 30 to I-44
• Ballas from Conway to Clayton
• Clayton and Ladue roads

Key trouble spots for peak evening congestion:

• Olive from I-170 to I-270
• Route 141 from Big Bend to I-44
• Ballas from Conway to Clayton
• Clayton and Ladue roads

With the end of the school year, MoDOT, Gateway Constructors and St. Louis County will make thorough observations of traffic patterns during the month of June.  The traffic engineers will be looking specifically at signal timing to determine what adjustments need to be made without school traffic.  "With the closure and change in traffic patterns this year, we cannot assume we know the proper timing.  We are taking the extra effort to be proactive and know what is happening and how we can best address the signal timing," said Hoffarth.  

Another key trouble spot has been the interchange at I-270 and I-64.  Changes were made on May 16 to the ramps from northbound and southbound I-270 to westbound I-64.  Since the closure in January, the northbound ramp has been two lanes and the southbound ramp remained one lane but was pushed tight against the shoulder and guardrail.  Although accidents have not been a problem, motorists on the southbound ramp would slow and hesitate with backups on the ramp stretching back to Olive.  A review of the northbound and southbound ramp volumes showed the two ramps carried about the same number of cars and the second lane on the northbound ramp was only used by 10 percent of the vehicles.  Both the northbound and southbound ramps have been restriped back to the original one lane each, allowing the southbound ramp to move back off the shoulder and away from the guardrail.  MoDOT engineers will continue to monitor these two ramp movements and volumes to verify this decision. 

The ramp from Ballas Road and I-64 westbound to northbound I-270 has been a continued trouble spot for rear-end accidents.  The ramp has a stop sign on it where motorists must stop and look for an opening on the two-lane ramp from eastbound I-64 to northbound I-270.  There is not room for all three lanes so the west to north traffic must stop.  Rear-end accidents are occurring when motorists are either not obeying the numerous signs warning them to stop or they stop and then hit the car in front them when that car rolls forward and then stops again.  MoDOT engineers continue to work with the police on what additional warnings can be installed.  Motorists are advised to stop on the ramp and not proceed until the car in front completely proceeds forward.

Travel Times

Traffic Volumes

For more information on the I-64 project, visit http://www.thenewi64.org/, and for real-time traffic information, visit http://www.gatewayguide.com/.