What used to be the Big Bend overpass at Highway 40 (Interstate 64) is now just a gap across the highway.

What’s increased as a result of no overpass, according to some reports, is traffic on streets such as Dale Avenue, Bellevue Avenue, and Boland Place in Richmond Heights. Some motorists are reportedly speeding down neighborhood streets to get around the closure. And some of them will be paying hefty fines as a result.

Still, the heaviest congestion resulting from yesterday’s Big Bend closure is on Brentwood Boulevard, between Manchester Road and the city of Clayton, according to the Missouri Department of Transportation.  Traffic is especially thick between Eager Road and University Tower, with the busiest times from 7:45 a.m. to 8:45 a.m., and from 4:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.     

“By all accounts, traffic is still moving well throughout the region,” said Lesley Hoffarth, the New I-64 project director for MoDOT.

To see more photos from the workzone, click here.   You’ll see images from the workzone on the New I-64 site.  For more from MoDOT on traffic without the Big Bend overpass, click here.