ST. LOUIS – The high number of fatal crashes along Natural Bridge Avenue in St. Louis City is driving an effort between the Missouri Department of Transportation, state and local St. Louis officials, and the community to improve safety along the route.
Since 2012, there have 18 fatal crashes, including 13 involving pedestrians, on Natural Bridge Avenue in the city of St. Louis. Twenty people died as a result of those crashes.
The current effort focuses on a four-mile section of Natural Bridge Avenue/Route 115 between Salisbury/Parnell and the city limits.
As part of a collaboration with transportation partners, MoDOT has put together a series of public service announcements and is involved with a series of focus groups. These groups are intended to make the community aware of the safety issues along the roadway and to involve them in the conversation and the ultimate solutions. MoDOT and local officials identified many of the safety concerns and started to discuss opportunities for improvement during a road safety audit conducted earlier this year.
Natural Bridge carries about 12,000 vehicles per day. Between 2012 and 2016, there were a total of 1,469 crashes on the Natural Bridge corridor, a significantly higher number than other similar roadways in Missouri.
“The upcoming focus groups will help us identify the places where we can further make the updates the community desires. We need the communities help, too. We see a great deal of speeding, and jaywalking, along this stretch of roadway – both of which contribute to the high numbers of crashes and fatal crashes,” said Michelle Forneris, MoDOT’s area engineer for the St. Louis City.
“"This is a very serious situation; these are not just isolated incidents. This is a pattern. Lives continue to be lost and families fractured because of dangerous and reckless driving on Natural Bridge. Natural Bridge is a top priority. We are going to make it safer for drivers and more pedestrian friendly,” said St. Louis City Alderman John Collins-Muhammad.
To view the PSAs, please visit: http://modot.mo.gov/stlouis/major_projects/NaturalBridgeSafetyInitiative.htm.
###