It’s been ridiculous. I drive by this bridge 2 times a day and for the last 6 months I have never seen more than 2 people working.

Do it Diva,

Gateway Constructors are the contractors on the I-64 project. They are private companies. MODOT is just overseeing.

With a background in construction, I still don’t understand why they are able to build an entire highway between mason and I-170. But they can’t get a bridge done.

Let’s not forget how MoDOT took something like 3 years to build a bridge over 255 at Telegraph, and something like 4 years to build a bridge over 270 at Olive. As someone who works a block from the Jefferson bridge, it is frustrating and has added time to my commute, but it could be much, much worse. Let’s just be thankful a gov’t road construction project was done in the time promised!

I would not want to ride on a bridge that was re-built in 6 months…..I wish a civil engineer would respond to explain how difficult it is to build a bridge as opposed to a road…

Interstate 64 will be closing December 15, 2008, from Interstate 170 (Interbelt) to Kingshighway. Will drivers’ be able to access eastbound Interstate 64 from Kingshighway? If not where will eastbound drivers’ be able to access Interstate 64 (Hi-way farty).

Yes, drivers will be able to enter eastbound 40 from Kingshighway.

“This bridge took longer because it has to go over Metrolink, Burlington Northern Sante Fe and Union Pacific Railroad tracks. All of these railroads are operational and cannot be stopped for rebuilding our bridge. Otherwise it would have taken less time.”

These are minor obstacles compared to the Warson/Clayton Road and Lindberg overpasses! The new Eastern half will go over Metrolink too, but I bet that won’t add a year to the project. It’s like someone else said, it depends on whether it is a contractor building something or a local government. And like another said, every time I’ve driven by there and that has been almost daily, I see like two guys working and one of them is on a coffee break!!

I just hope the city gave UPS a big tax break for the year their trucks have wasted countless hours and unknown gobs of gasoline trying to get to South St. Louis!!!

Actually Gershenson Construction is building the bridge, not the City. Like the other posters said, the challenge is tearing down a bridge and then building a new one over an active rail yard. Forget MetroLink, a contractor can’t tell a railroad company to stop moving trains through their yard, you need to work around their schedule. Also, there were major utilities on the bridge, none were located on Warson, Lindbergh, and even Compton.

Thanks for your input Jason. Most people here have no idea the coordination it takes to construct over 8-10 active railroad tracks. Forget Metro Link, the real obstacle is the active raillines. Not to mention the major utilities on the bridge.

What does concern me is the new intersection on the North Side of the bridge. I spoke with a UPS employee and they said that when it is complete, they will not be able to make a left turn into the UPS lot when traveling South towards the Jefferson Ave. Bridge. They will have to double back to get back to their lot. If that is true, that makes absolutely no sense for the countless trucks that have to enter that lot.