Herbie: Over the last few months, some shrubbery and even a six-foot tall tree have grown in the median of Hwy40 between Hanley and Oakland. Are there any plans to remove the "greenery" prior to the closure of the highway in 3 months?

Dan Galvin and Linda Wilson: I haven't noticed anything like that. But obviously if weeds become a problem or safety hazard we'll take care of them.

Dan

Kurtis Jr: Hello Dan & Linda, and thanks for your continued participating in these online forums.

Two questions:
1) Will someone from St. Louis city traffic/streets be joining you next year? I can see several advantages to having someone from that entity present during the closure of the City portions of I-64.
2) When will the work on 170 at Forest Park Parkway commence? This is in regards to the lengthening of the merge ramps that you mentioned a few weeks ago.

Thanks!

Dan Galvin and Linda Wilson: 1) That sounds like a good idea to me. We'll ask them about it.
2) That work on I-170 at Forest Park Parkway began Monday night and will continue for the next couple of weeks.

Dan

St. Louis City and County engineers have been meeting with MoDOT every two weeks to review traffic flow around the region since January 2008. We plan on continuing that through the end of 2009. For the first couple of weeks that the east half is closed, MoDOT St Louis City and County engineers will work together at a closure command center at I-44 and Hampton to monitor to the traffic and make changes together every day. We have been so pleased with the teamwork approach that we have with our partners from the City and County and will continue that.

Linda Wilson

Tony Marcus: Here's our exchange from this week, followed by my re-stating the question:

Tony Marcus: MoDOT is getting ready for the next phase of the project by putting new signs on westbound Forest Park Parkway. But they must be low on "To" signs in the shop, since only the one in Clayton says "To I-170." As it is now, out-of towners and other Hoosiers could believe they are on part of I-170 and go expressway speeds, only to come upon police radar (bad) or traffic stopped at a light (much worse). Wouldn't it be better to get this signage right?

Dan Galvin and Linda Wilson: Forest Park Parkway is a County Road. Any signs there except right at the ramps to I-170 would be County signs. I would be happy to pass this on to the County, but I'm not sure I understand the problem. Where on westbound Forest Park Parkway do you think there needs to be more signs directing motorists to I-170? There are speed limit signs on Forest Park Parkway that motorists should obey. Please further explain the problem and I will be happy to share with the County Highway department and see what they can do.

Linda Wilson

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The signs the County put up on Forest Park Parkway are simply a I-170 shield and a "straight" arrow.

By not including the "To" sign above the shield, the signs simply say I-170, straight ahead, as if you are already on I-170. That's misleading and likely a violation of some signage standard manual at AASHTO or MoDOT.

Dan Galvin and Linda Wilson: I have forwarded your concern to St. Louis County Highway department. If I get an update from them, I will go back and update the answers on the Oct 1 chatroom later this week. I do not have an answer yet and our chatroom ends at 3 p.m. today.

Linda Wilson

Kurtis Jr: Hi, I have another question for you all. Is there any planned work for 2010? If so, when will that work be completed?

Thanks!

Dan Galvin and Linda Wilson: The contract has a final completion date of July 31, 2010. But, there is also a deadline of December 31, 2009, the contractor must have all lanes of the interstate back open. There is a possibility that in 2010, there may be some work still left including soundwalls, landscaping, side street. The contractor certainly wants to have everything or as much as possible finished by the end of 2009. It is too soon to know what will still be left to do in 2010.

Linda Wilson

DH: What is the big mound dirt for at the 170/64 interchange?

Dan Galvin and Linda Wilson: There are several mounds of dirt around I-170 and I-64 so it is difficult to know exactly which one you may be referring to. However, all of them are excavated dirt from one part of the project that will be moved to another part of the project. Remember we are not quite half finished yet. Much of this dirt will be used in other areas of the project. Anything left over will have to have a final spot to be placed and graded and seeded.

Linda Wilson