How was your commute without four miles of Highway 40?
UPDATE: How many of you posted below something to this effect: “Yes, Highway 40 closed on Jan. 2, but the real test is how things go on Jan. 7″? Well, that day is here. Return and let us know how the “real test” went, since most schools are back in session and most people are not still on vacation.
Note: Comments from today, Jan. 7, start on this page. Read below for comments prior to that.
The original posting from Jan. 2:
Not sure if you heard about this…but Highway 40 shut down overnight between Ballas and I-170. We’ve featured the project in a special report, we’ve upgraded and promoted our online traffic reports, we’ve even done a game to try and have some fun with the project.
So, today was the first day we’ve had to cope with the change. And whether or not you usually drive on Highway 40, everyone’s expecting fall-out from the shutdown to affect drivers in other parts of the region.
So the question today: Did it affect you? How’d you deal with it? What route did you take? Was traffic heavier than usual on your usual commute?
Got photos from the Highway 40 reconstruction or the surrounding area? Click here and post them to our readers’ album.
Kurt is the director of social media for the Post-Dispatch, where he has worked since August 2002. He's been a journalist since 1982, covering municipal government, courts, education and two hurricanes as a reporter before becoming an editor. 
There has been little to no change for me traveling without highway 40. But I do find it funny that the new owners of Giuseppe’s restaurant ( on So.Grand at Meramec) found it necessary to close their doors for dinner due to the HWY 40 closure.This has left many people very disappointed !
Hanley at 40 was a mess this afternoon.
I’m always amused by the high-and-mighty
Excuse me, but I’m not the one who made BS assumptions. I stated facts about stupidity and closedmindedness and now you’re flinging namecalling at being called on it.
latte-drinking
I hate coffee.
goatee-and-beret-wearing
Wouldn’t that look stupid on a woman?
Thomas Pynchon-reading
Who?
city-dwelling
Prove it. I never said where I lived — precisely to prevent idiots like you from doing something stupid like egg my house for daring to have an opinion.
liberal nutjobs
How do you know who I vote for? And who’s the nutjob, the one who speaks truth or the one who attacks those who dare to disagree with your precious little bubble of “gods gift to the world”?
like Buran who complain that people ârefuse to recognize that there’s a world outside this city”
Which is the truth for the people I talked about.
while at the same time think that no culture exists outside their little crime-infested St. Louis City cocoon
Again, I didn’t say where I lived. Thank you for making stupid, bigoted, and insulting assumptions.
I will tell you this much: I DO NOT LIVE IN THE CITY. You’re just an idiot.
Praise God that I live in the suburbs and don’t have to be neighbors with people like that.
You can praise whoever you want but I don’t put much stock in people who make a pile of stupid guesses that are all wrong and then decide that somebody who DOESN’T EVEN EXIST but is a product of your need to feel all good about yourself.
You might want to take a look in the mirror in the morning if you want to see who the nutjobs are.
Do the people who encourage others to take the public transit system actually use it for themselves?
The St. Louis public transit system is pathetic in many ways and an impractical solution in many situations. I think it’s great if it’s convenient for someone to use, but for some of us, it’s far more hassle to deal with than sitting in traffic which is a hassle in and of itself with roads that wouldn’t otherwise be jam-packed to 150% capacity.
The reason why the typical St Louisan will not use transit is due in part because they live in the boooring suburbs and then would have to ride with African Americans, the same people they all fled and still flee today….West/South County in the 80’s and St.Chuck and beyond in the 90’s and today. I mean, the reason why they flee is because they want schools, certainly not any issues with African Americans and sharing a train seat with one of them. You west county idiots are something else. You are all concerned if Ladue has enough bagels for breakfast in the morning. So f’n glad I left that cesspool many many moons ago. 15 minutes of traffic, the world is coming to an end, I need to be home by 5 o’clock so I can mow my lawn and in STL tradition sit on the driveway and ask peole we don’t know what high school they went to since most west county inhabitants living there have not attended college. Get a life folks, there is a real world outside your 1/4 acre lot! Oh it is I-64, get off the “farty” trip. Go sell your Rams tickets you “big league city” you.
#105……you sound like a real winner. I am sure any city you live in currently would love to have you as a resident. This country was built on its citizens bettering themselves. The reason you move to West co. is just that!!! You get that promotion at work, you are able to move to a bigger,better, more expensive house with fast cable internet and should not have to be scared of bullets flying over your head. I am a white Jewish guy who grew up in University City. My best friend was black, he was playing ball at Heman Park and was shot by another black man because he lost the basketball game. Thats why people want to move to West. Co. Blacks and whites alike want to get out and better themselves.
People move there to flee the blacks and use the excuse of the schools. To better yourself? May I remind you that you reside in STL, crime infested, dyfunctional government, and a rapid loss of corporate companies just fleeing left and right. I mean, who cares about a highway shutdown, it is a way of life and someday the new I-64 (as it should be called) will enhance that awesome west county experience two fold. It is sad to see the media in that town shut you folks from the real world and feed you BS of the same ol SH*T over and over again. Trust me, there is a lot more going on beyond a 15 minute delay. People there gripe about everything and anything. I’m sure the bagels will make it to Dierbergs on time.
First of all, I dont think of myself as living in St. Louis. I am a Chesterfield resident. At least thats what it says on my mail. I dont really care about the 40 shutdown, I work out in Earth City so it does not bother me. St. Louis has it good — have you ever been to cities like LA, Chicago, Atlanta, New York City, Boston and seen their traffic in those cities?! By the way whats wrong with Dierbergs? I cant stand Shop Save because you have to bag your own groceries.
Hey everybody…the topic for this blog is “How was your commute without four miles of Highway 40?” Now…I know that some people want to vent that they hate those of us who live in West St. Louis County..but really..I just want to hear from other drivers as to what they experienced. And just so people like Drummer calm down..read the above comments..and you will see that the traffic affects everyone. Not just West County people. It affects people from St. Charles..and people from the East side. And Drummer..it affects white people and black people..all of us. Information is what I want..not the rantings of people who can’t wait to tell me that they don’t like me.
Perhaps the Post could do a public service a make a separate blog for City-Suburb infighting…
102, Hanley at 40 was a mess before the shutdown… don’t expect a lot. I’m surprised that MoDot is surprised that’s a problem area.