Counties Impacted
St. Louis
Franklin
Jefferson
Route Impacted
44
Completed

Project Progress

Complete
Public Meeting

MoDOT held a public meeting on this project in October 2017 to discuss this project.

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Complete
Contract awarded

The Missouri Highways and Transportation Commission awarded the contract for this project to KCI Construction for $51.1 million in June 2018.

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Complete
Construction Begins

Construction on the project has substantially been completed.  Work remains to complete the trailheads for the shared use path bridge.

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Complete
Westbound bridge construction

The first portion of the project is to construct the new westbound bridge between the existing westbound and eastbound bridges.

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Complete
Northbound I-270 ramp to westbound I-44 shift

The ramp from northbound I-270 to westbound I-44 will shift as part of ongoing traffic control around the project.

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Complete
Southbound I-270 to westbound I-44 ramp shift

The ramp from southbound I-270 to westbound I-44 will shift several times to construct and complete the new ramp.

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Complete
Shift eastbound traffic to new westbound bridge

Eastbound traffic will shift to the new westbound bridge, when it is completed.

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Complete
Demolish old eastbound bridge

Crews will demolish the old eastbound bridge.

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Complete
Construct new eastbound bridge

After the old bridge has been removed, crews will build a new eastbound bridge in the same location

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Complete
Shift traffic to new eastbound, westbound bridges

Once the new eastbound bridge is completed, crews will shift eastbound traffic onto the new bridge and westbound traffic onto the new westbound bridge.

 

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Complete
Demolish existing westbound I-44 bridge
Once traffic has shifted to the new eastbound and westbound bridges, crews will demolish the existing westbound bridge.
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Complete
Construct shared use path across Meramec

Crews will construct a bridge to carry a new shared use path over the Meramec River. The new path will be north of the new westbound bridge.

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Complete
Close and replace westbound Route 366 to I-44 bridge

Crews rebuilt the  ramp from  westbound Route 366 (Watson Road) bridge to westbound I-44/northbound and southbound I-270. The ramp reopened in  November 2019.

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Complete
Close and replace the eastbound I-44 to eastbound Route 366 bridge

Crews will close the eastbound I-44 to eastbound Route 366 (Watson Road) ramp to remove and replace a  bridge on the ramp.

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Latest News

What is the problem?

Many of the bridges on the I-44 corridor are at least 50 years old and need significant renovation or rebuilding.  The older bridges in this project were built in the 1950s when speeds and traffic demands were much lower.

Didn’t MoDOT just renovate those bridges? Why rebuild them now?

MoDOT did complete a minor renovation of both the eastbound and westbound bridges on  I-44 over the Meramec River about two years ago.  That renovation was completed when funding levels were expected to be significantly lower and was intended to be a stopgap measure until funding was determined to replace the bridges, in about five to 10 years. Since it will take several years until the project is complete, the bridges will be within that five to 10 year timeframe. The bridges will remain safe until construction is complete.  

What changes can drivers expect as a part of the project?

Since the bridges and the basic I-270/I-44 interchange were built, traffic volumes have steadily increased.  The interchange does not operate as effectively as it could, so the department is implementing some changes to how traffic enters and exits I-44.  The biggest impact will be that the entrance ramp from I-270 and the entrance ramp from Watson Road (Route 366) to westbound I-44, and the exit ramp from Soccer Park from westbound I-44  will cross the river on a separate bridge from the westbound lanes.  The department is also making some improvements to ramps from eastbound I-44 to I-270, making the curves a little easier to navigate. The department will also add a lane to the eastbound I-44 bridge over the Meramec to allow a dedicated exit lane for northbound and southbound I-270 and three through lanes on I-44.

What construction impacts can drivers expect?

For the Watson Road (Route 366) Bridges, both bridges will be closed, most likely during the summer months, (not at the same time, however).  The posted detour will be to use Lindbergh to enter and exit I-44 while the new Watson Road bridges are built.

There will be impacts to drivers for the construction of the new bridges over the Meramec.  Drivers should expect one lane closed around the clock, mostly on westbound I-44, for much of the project. Additionally, drivers can expect weekend closures as crews rebuild or connect several of the ramps.

The ramp from westbound Watson Road to westbound I-44 will be closed for a significant amount of time during the project; however drivers will be able to use Lindbergh to detour around the closure. Crews will build one bridge at a time, but drivers can expect traffic shifts and switches as those bridges are constructed.  There may be additional off-peak lane closures for the bridge construction. When we build the new connections between the existing roadway and the bridges, there will be some additional impacts to traffic with some longer term lane closures. We'll share those impacts as we get closer, and drivers can sign up for e-updates here.

What are the expected detours?

While the eastbound ramp to Watson Road is closed, the marked detour will be to take I-44 east to the Lindbergh exit and then take Lindbergh south to Watson Road. While the westbound ramp from Watson Road is closed, the marked detour will be to take Lindbergh to westbound I-44.

Will sound walls be constructed with this project?

Although the roadway is being relocated, there are several other criteria, all of which must be met for MoDOT to consider constructing sound walls. This project does not meet at least two of those criteria.  Sound walls will not be constructed as a part of this work.

Will this project improve or decrease flooding along the Meramec?

This project will do neither.  As part of any project in a floodplain, MoDOT must design the project to have no additional impact on flooding, based on the current Corps of Engineers flood map projections.

What happens to the old westbound bridge?

MoDOT reached out to several of our partners, including the municipalities on either side of the bridge.  None of them were willing to take maintenance responsibility for the bridge for their own uses, so the bridge will be demolished at the end of the project.

Will there be a bike lane with this project?

Residents of the region, especially in the communities of Kirkwood, Fenton and Sunset Hills, were invited to an open house about the project to build a connection for people walking and biking on the new Interstate 44 bridge over the Meramec River. Interested people were able to share their thoughts with the municipalities of Fenton, Kirkwood and Sunset Hills in South St. Louis along with project partners Great Rivers Greenway and the Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT) during this early planning phase (will bid for construction at the end of 2020). Although MoDOT is constructing this project, it is being designed and funded by the municipalities through a park grant. What MoDOT will construct as a part of this project includes the shared use path across the river and any necessary connections to get to or from the existing trail network at the bridge over the Meramec River.

Much of the information gathered by the three municipalities, GRG and MoDOT is shared here. A second public input meeting was held October 15, 2019 from 6-8 p.m. at RiverChase Recreation Center in Fenton. Information shared at the meeting, and an opportunity to share feedback on that information, is below.

At this time concepts are being explored to guide the design of trail connections and amenities associated with the bridge. Public input and technical feasibility are important components of the concept development. This project has several goals:

  • Provide people with a safe and accessible way to cross the Meramec River while walking, running or riding a bike.
  • Connect to the Meramec Greenway, parks, trails, businesses, neighborhoods and other destinations on either side, including possible new trailheads with amenities like a restroom, benches and parking.
  • Allow people to connect to the Meramec River itself; inviting people to enjoy nature leads to ownership and opportunities to be good stewards of these natural resources for the health and long-term sustainability of our watershed and communities.