ST. LOUIS- Drivers traveling throughout the St. Louis area can look forward to various roadway improvements as crews begin the first phase of construction for the Safety Improvements Design-Build project.
For the next two weeks, crews will be installing chevrons with reflective signpost strips at various locations in St. Louis City, St. Louis County, and Jefferson County. Chevrons are safety improvements that help warn motorists of a curve ahead.
“There were 5,321 crashes that resulted in fatal or serious injuries in the three counties during the five years that we studied while preparing this project. That's 5,321 too many. MoDOT and St. Louis County have prioritized work to reduce this number, and this team is dedicated to delivering on that,” said Safety Improvements Project Director Stacey Smith. “I'm excited for construction beginning this week, we're counting on drivers to slow down in work zones and pay attention so we can both do this important work and go home safely to our families.
The next safety improvements to be installed involves replacing current signal backplates with an updated retroreflective border that help improve traffic signal visibility both during the day and at night. This work will take place starting Mid-April.
More than half of the construction work is to be completed by the end of 2024. Most of the work will have minimal impacts to the traveling public and will not involve long-term closures or detours. A few locations will require short-term closures, but work will be completed during off-peak day or nighttime hours.
MoDOT encourages motorists and area residents to visit the Safety Improvements Project website to view the safety improvements booklet and overall project information. You may sign up for project updates at the webpage or by emailing SLSafetyProject@modot.mo.gov.
The project is a cost-share partnership with St. Louis County that is dedicated to enhancing safety on St. Louis County roads as well as state routes in Jefferson County and the City of St. Louis. More than 30 different types of safety improvements will be implemented at nearly 235 locations by the design-build team which includes NB West Contracting, Horner & Shifrin, Engineering Design Services Inc., and Lochmueller Group.
Construction is scheduled to be completed by summer 2026.