Has the Hwy. 40 shutdown affected you? Will phase 2 hurt more or less?
I’m pleased to report that the shutdown of Highway 40, which I expected to cause me great pain and suffering, has not. It’s been an inconvenience, sure. It’s tacked another 10 minutes to my commute and I can’t say I look forward to the drive — either to or from work.
But I also can’t say it’s been anywhere near as bad as I expected.
Today we learn when the western half of the construction zone reopens and when the eastern half closes. As it happens, that change won’t affect me. My commute is sort of “locked in,” as I scoot down to Interstate 44 each morning. It’ll change how I get to those inconvenient mid-county or western-city locations such as Forest Park, the Science Center and downtown Clayton.
How about you? Have you missed Highway 40? Are you pleased to see the contractors moving to Phase 2 ahead of schedule? Will Phase 2 affect you more or less than Phase 1?
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. 
I live in between 40 and Olve near Lindbergh on a busy street. We have not seen the armageddon that was promised, however, we have seen congestion on Olive and Ladue Road that is often pretty severe. Sometimes, around rush hour when Monsanto lets out, getting out of the driveway is dependent on the mercy of other drivers. We have had an influx of drivers from West County who have used Ladue Road as an alternate. It is amazing to me that so many people who live in expensive houses have reached their stations in life apparently not being able to read street signs. In spite of flashing arrows, signs, articles, TV stories, etc., they refuse to understand there are two merge lanes on both sides of Lindbergh. These people are also afflicted with a disease that has rendererd them incapable of merging those two lanes back into one. This disease causes them to try to race off the light to beat everyone and then their necks become paralyzed looking forward so as not to see the drivers in the right lane trying to legally merge. Its a strange syndrome. I will be delighted to see them back on 40 next month and only hope their disease causes memory loss and they forget how to get back to Ladue Road. I think the next phase will be worse because it was still possible to get downtown on 40 by taking the Innerbelt. Now, downtown will only be accessible via the secondaries. If Page, Olive, Delmar, etc. stall like we’ve seen with Ladue and Olive during phase one, its going to be a nightmare. Some have speculated that these jams that will occur in marginal neighborhoods could become a drive through for car jackers. Hopefully, patrols will be increased. I suspect you will see many businesses in the city succomb. They might survive the economy or the highway, but both is going to be a challenge. I now view Highway 40 sort of like I view Obama. It can’t be as bad as everyone is predicting. At least I hope it can’t.
I live in Webster Groves, and the reopening of 64 (I have to learn to call it that now) between 270 and 170 will cut probably ten minutes off of my morning commute to O’Fallon, MO. I first tried taking 44 west to 270 north to 64 west, but the 44/270 interchange is awful. Now it’s Manchester to 270 north instead, which is still not great. I’m looking forward to taking McKnight to 64. As far as the closure of 64 between 170 and Kingshighway goes, it won’t bother us much since we can still access Clayton and Forest Park and such using Brentwood or Big Bend, and we can still get downtown using 44, which is better anyway. So I’m looking very forward to the switch over.
Hasn’t affected me at all. I take the Metrolink to work from Shrewsburry. Plus I lived in the area for a few years, so I’m pretty comfortable using alternative routes.
As someone who drives from NW STL County to South City for work, Phase 2 will be worse for me. I am already thinking of creative ways to get from A to B (maybe via Illinois? ha)
I will have to find an entire new route to work and I’m not looking forward to it! I come from Brentwood to the city (the north side of 40). I’m sure this will add a good amount of time to my commute.
I live near downtown and work in Clayton, and my commute has actually been much better during construction. I’m expecting the exact opposite during this next closure…
Don’t worry SuzyJax, when AB cuts your job, you won’t have to worry about the Alt routes
I say more construction. I’ve never had it better driving from South City to St. Charles via Kingshighway, 40 and 170. I can’t remember any tie ups since 40 west of 170 closed. The only thing I do notice is a bit more traffic on Kingshighway since Hampton exit closed.
When the second half of 40 closes I expect to use Forest Park Parkway to get to 170. It’s been real nice to use, rarely a backup.
You realize this whole project could have been completed it the entire stretch were shutdown at once. It has worked out for the best in my opinion.
Clearwater, Suzyjax said she’ll have trouble getting from point A to point B, not AB.
I drive to the Clayton area from Illinois each morning. My commute improved significantly during the first phase. The second phase figures to be significantly more challenging. I’m still having trouble understanding why it even needs to be done. The only true traffic control/safety issue was at the I-170 interchange. That’s now been addressed. If it were up to me, I’d replace the now-demolished Hampton overpass, reconnect the existing Highway 64 roadbed with the newly-finished stretch, and call it a day.