Riverview (Route H) resurfacing

What is the situation?

MoDOT has awarded a contract for $4.8 million to resurface the stretch of Route H (Riverview) from just north of Chain of Rocks Drive to north of the I-270 interchange. Through recent observations and safety reviews, this section of Route H has been determined to have drivers at speeds above the posted speed limit and people using the center turn lane as a passing lane.  This stretch of roadway has a higher number of crashes than similar state roadways. During the resurfacing, MoDOT will improve the safety of the roadway by placing a raised median strip to close off the center turn lane, and allowing U-turns at Adrian and Spring Garden Drives.  In addition, the department will widen shoulders along the route.

What is the current plan?

MoDOT will resurface Route H, roughly between Chain of Rocks Drive and north of I-270. As a part of the resurfacing, the department  is adding a center median strip along the route to help calm traffic, with legal U-turns at Adrian and Spring Garden drives.  These U-turns will allow traffic heading north to get to residences on roadways on southbound Route H, and allow drivers on the southbound side head north toward I-270. With the median strip, MoDOT can also provide five-foot shoulders on both northbound and southbound Route H.

MoDOT will allow left turns at all existing side streets.

What are MoDOT’s responsibilities on Riverview?

MoDOT has a maintenance agreement with the city of St. Louis for roads within the city limits. MoDOT is responsible for signals, signs, striping, sweeping and pavement maintenance on Riverview. St. Louis City retains ownership and responsibility for everything else.

How will this make the roadway safer?

Several factors contribute to the significantly higher number of crashes along Route H, when compared to similar state routes with the same amount of traffic.  They include aggressive driving (including using the center lane as a passing lane) and speeding. The median strip will help calm traffic.