What’s your impression of the newly-opened Hwy. 40?
It’s been nearly a year since work on “The New I-64″ (more commonly known here as Highway 40) began with the shutdown of all driving lanes between I-270 and I-170/Brentwood Boulevard.
Now, the western portion of the highway is open and the section between I-170 and Kingshighway is closed. That will most likely cause more headaches for St. Louis drivers and residents – and probably is.
I’ve recently driven the new 5-mile section of roadway going west from I-170 to I-270, and had the feeling that I was in another city. Four lanes in each direction and five lanes in places, but was struck by the sterilized feeling of the highway – clean, modern – like driving with tunnel vision!
Only time will tell how the completed project will improve traffic for the region, and that won’t happen until next December.
Others I’ve talked with have the same impression – clean, sterile and almost like you’re in a different city.
If you’ve driven the new roadway in either direction, what’s your impression?
No complaints here. It cut my commute by 20 minutes on the good days and more than an hour on the rainy, bad days (drive from Clayton to Ballwin before home to pick up my daughter). Ambaince? Who cares, it’s a way to get home. The lettering on the overpasses? Who cares, it tells you what the street is. Some people have to find something to complain about.
I’m happy it’s open and hats off to those that worked their tails off to get it done quickly.
Nice……walls…..also, looks great!
I think that the new Hwy. 367 is a better redo and they did not have to shut down the highway. Hwy. 40 is still, just a highway.
It won’t last 5 years. With the contractor being the inspector it will be as bad or worse then it was.
— Think|
“You think they could have gotten the exit sign for Lindbergh right. All they had to do was cover up the “South” on the sign.”
Excellent point.
I was confused by the sign but took the exit to go northbound anyway, although it was my only choice.
it’s a friggin road people, who cares what it looks like? It ain’t the Taj Majal!!!
Decided to drive it (eastbound) one night about 2:30AM. Nice. I guess the young lady in front of me was not impressed though, because she drove right into the wall on the flyover ramp onto 170 north. I called the cops and then got out to see how she was. She was very shook up, but okay. She said she had been drinking, so I’m sure she ate the DWI. Too bad for her! Hopefully she’ll learn before she gets hurt or hurts someone else.
I haven’t driven on it as of yet. I don’t plan on it neither. I honestly think it’s not that big of a deal and that there are more important matters to put in the news.
I agree, very sterile. Way to much time and money was spent putting up sound barriers. There doesn’t seem to be anything in place for future expansion if needed.
The new ramps are a vast improvement however.
I wish MODOT had some vision. A light rail line down the center of the highway could have provided a start for a decent mass transit system in St. Louis. A lost opportunity…