Highway 40 (Interstate 64) will reopen to the public Dec. 7 — a month early and under budget, officials said this morning.

The Missouri Department of Transportation made the announcement at a 9:30 a.m. news conference to announce the reopening of the stretch of highway between Kingshighway and I-170.

MoDOT Chief Pete Rahn made the announcement on one of the nearly completed ramps off Hanley Road.

“The project that many said MoDOT could not deliver on time and on budget will be completed $11 million under budget and one month early,” Rahn said.

Rahn thanked area officials for their cooperation and the public for their patience.

“This was a project we could not fail on,” Rahn said.

Also in attendance Friday morning were St. Louis County Executive Charlie A. Dooley and St. Louis Mayor Francis Slay.

Dooley described the news of the Dec. 7 opening date as “an early Christmas present for shoppers and retailers.”

Slay remarked on the “skepticism” of many area residents regarding the state’s ability to complete the project without causing traffic chaos.

“The skeptics were shown it can be done,” Slay said.

The officials spoke above the din of construction work continuing in the background.

Rahn said that a party will be held on a portion of the newly completed interstate to celebrate the re-opening on Dec. 6, a Sunday, culminating with a ribbon cutting at 3 p.m. The highway will officially open on Monday, Dec. 7.