JJC: Good afternoon, how is the eastern side of the project progressing? Ahead of schedule? Behind?

Dan Galvin and Linda Wilson: We're on schedule. Right now it is still too early to make any accurate predictions about completion dates, but we're confident that we will hit the main deadline of 12/31. A few weeks of bad weather can certainly slow things down, but so far this year hasn't been as bad as last year so we're trying to beat the 12/31 deadline.

Jim: It seems as though a lot of the paint used in the lane and shoulder striping in the areas West of Brentwood on the new Highway 40 is not holding up. This is not only on the main sections of the highway, but also the exit ramps. Can these be repainted?

Dan Galvin and Linda Wilson: That's temporary striping which we're in the process of replacing right now. Permanent striping coundn't be applied in cold or wet weather so we had to wait until summer to complete that part.

Dan

John: Will West bound 40 return to three lanes at the I-270 interchange? Currently it's down to two lanes and traffic is backed up every day all the way back to highway 141. If memory serves me correctly this used to be three lines wide prior to construction.

Dan Galvin and Linda Wilson: I think you mean eastbound. Yes, it will be restriped to three lanes when we're done. The current configuration is intended to support the detoured traffic going to I-70 and I-44.

Dan

Bill: I noticed a short ramp on Brentwood in the northbound lanes just before you get to the highway overpass and was wonderng what that is for?

Dan Galvin and Linda Wilson: I think you are referring to the ramp that will take you onto the collector distributor road to Hanley Road and eastbound I-64.

Dan

dweebe: Why was the money spent on building the bridge over Highland Terrace? After construction on I-64 is done, how many cars are expected to use that bridge per day?

It seems like a fairly useless overpass with Big Bend and Bellevue less than 100 yards in each direction.

Dan Galvin and Linda Wilson: Cross street bridges were determined during the environmental impact studies. Consultation with the local communities and analysis of nearby traffic patterns can influence decisions of what gets included and what doesn't.

Dan

Greg: I was driving north on McCausland/Skinker today (Monday), just before 1pm, to make a left onto Clayton Road. Once the northbound light @ Clayton turned red, it appeared southbound traffic still had a green light for 15-20 seconds.

The only think I could think of is that southbound Skinker would have had a left arrow during that timeframe -- otherwise, I can think of no reason northbound Skinker/McCausland would be red while southbound is green. Considering that there is no left turn southbound on Skinker @ Clayton since Highway 40 is closed, does this setup make any sense?

Dan Galvin and Linda Wilson: We'll ask the traffic engineers to look at that light to make sure it's functioning properly.

Dan

buran: We were told that the McKnight overpass would receive final repaving (and removal of that ugly unfinished Jersey barrier wall) when nighttime temperatures were in the mid-50s or higher. Now it's not only in the mid-50s, but it's much, much higher. And yet the work is not done and the bumps and rattles continue. Why is the intersection still a rough mess long past the time when it was supposed to have been complete and smooth?

Dan Galvin and Linda Wilson: Tomorrow morning we'll be doing some concrete paving that will make it easier for trucks to make turns onto the ramps. After that is completed we'll be able to do the final asphalt paving. We had to wait for some design changes associated with the ramp adjustments before we could complete the final paving.

Dan

Greg: With all of the wet weather lately, we know that paving on the mainline is behind the originally announced schedule. About how much time was lost due to the weather?

Dan Galvin and Linda Wilson: So far the only impact weather has had is on the mainline paving and that slowed us down by a week, something we will be able to make up without much trouble.

Dan

kb-dragon: I don't drive this way often, so I could have missed it, but...
Are there any signs indicating what lanes will be going which direction when driving southbound Lindbergh towards the I-64 SPUI? I didn't spot any BEFORE the left lanes became solid stripes that cars aren't supposed to cross.

Good job in general, y'all.

Dan Galvin and Linda Wilson: There is a sign that indicates westbound I-64 access is from the left lanes. We'll drive by and make sure it's still there.

Dan

chris jones: How much longer until Hanley opens again? As I watch in the past few weeks, it appears there is no hurry to get it open. (no Saturdays and very few people during the week) I know you must watch cost but it is killing us commuters.

Thank you.

Dan Galvin and Linda Wilson: At Hanley the weather has gotten in the way when it comes to asphalt paving that would tie the bridge in with the road. There are also lots of things going on under the bridge that you wouldn't see when driving by on Eager. For another example, we have a large crew on the north side of the bridge today building a retaining wall aling the northwest side of Hanley. Approach slabs and asphalt paving are scheduled over the next few weeks.

Dan

Mark: Hello Dan and Linda:

Thank you for continuing these chats. I have two questions.

1. Is the Hampton overpass still on track to have all lanes open by next weekend?

2. I'd bet this will be a common question today...Can we get an update on the Hanley progress? As I'm certain you are aware and were expecting, navigating Richmond Hgts has become fairly ugly.

Thank you both.

Dan Galvin and Linda Wilson: The only things left to open on Hampton would be the ramps that would take you onto the freeway. We originally had planned to open Hampton with one lane each way, but were able to make some changes so that we could open two lanes each direction instead. As for Hanley, you'll see visible progress over the next few weeks (weather permitting) that will tie in the road with the bridge and construct barrier walls. All that's left is weather dependent and we'll have it open soon. The original scheduled completion was 8/31. We expect to beat that date.

Dan

cnoel: Hi - Were there no questions on June 17? That page is blank and I didn't see a notice that the discussion was cancelled, maybe I missed it though. I always read it, sometimes a day or two late but it is very informative and I admire your patience with the repeated and ignorant questions. Keep up the good work.
Thanks

Dan Galvin and Linda Wilson: There were some technical problems at the Post Dispatch that have been fixed so we'll keep doing this until they tell us to stop. Thanks for your appreciation too.

Dan

mdm8589: Now that the Hampton overpass is open, there is no left turn from northbound Hampton to Oakland. Why?

ps - love the roundabouts going into the park.

Dan Galvin and Linda Wilson: Actually left turns were not allowed for northbound Hampton except for when we closed the bridge. Now that it's open again we have returned to that restriction.

Dan

chris: Has the Oakland bridge been paved yet? Any idea on an opening date yet?

Thanks,

Dan Galvin and Linda Wilson: We paved the first half of the bridge starting Tuesday morning at 1 a.m. The second half will be next week sometime. The hot weather had us chenge the paving operation to nights. It's still on schedule to reopen in late July.

Dan