View of the tunnel from Oakland

For the third time in two months, a pedestrian crossing opened today as part of the Highway 40 (Interstate 64) rebuilding effort.

The Bowl Lake underpass in Forest Park will be opening today just east of the St. Louis Science Center. The tunnel has lighting. It allows bicyclists and pedestrians on Oakland Avenue to enter the park. It replaces the underpass near Macklind Avenue and the park stables, which will close  by Monday.  The new tunnel doesn’t look as finished as the pedestrian underpass that opened last month, but eventually it will.  

“It’s done enough to open, but they’ve got work to do around the edges,” said Linda Wilson, spokeswoman for the Missouri Department of Transportation.

The old tunnel is in the way of highway work. Crews are lowering the grade of Highway 40 near the Science Center. To prepare lanes for paving, they must remove the old tunnel. Signs will direct Forest Park trail users to the new crossing.

Last month, a pedestrian underpass opened at Hampton Avenue, allowing joggers and bicyclists to go under the street rather than across it. A pedestrian bridge also opened last month east of Kingshighway.