CB: I know with the first half of the project that it was impractical to re-open the highway in segments as they were completed (i.e. from Ballas to Lindbergh, then to McKnight, etc.) because the detour route of 270-70-170 was worth protecting.

Given that the detour this time does not include an interstate (only Forest Park Pkwy.), are you considering opening the highway as it's completed? I'm especially thinking of the stretch from Kingshighway to the Clayton exit, since Clayton would seem to be a natural detour route anyways.

Dan Galvin and Linda Wilson: Highway construction is not really a linear process, where we move from west to east, building as we go. We have to balance dirt fill and cuts with equipment, materials and manpower over the life of a project. There will be things happening at every part of the work zone throughout the next year as we perform the work. So we won't have it finished in pieces you could drive on. As for having the highway end at Clayton Road, I would think that would be even worse congestion-wise than having it end at Kingshighway.

Dan

Frontenac: I notice that every new bridge has street lights on both sides of the bridge, except our bridge on Spoede Road. It looks so lopsided and wrong. Is this another government attempt to dump on the rich? When will the other side get its lights?

Dan Galvin and Linda Wilson: Look again. The bridge at Spoede is exactly the same as the bridges at McKnight and McCutcheon with pedestrian lights on the side that has the sidewalk. On the bridges where we built two sidewalks (Tamm and Bellevue) we installed two sets of lights, one on either side.

Dan

Jan Kreutzberg: I will be bringing my sister to an appt. @John Cochran Veterans Hospital at 915 No. Grand next Wednesday. We will be coming from IL on 55/70 to downtown. Would we exit on Grand or a detour route? We are not real familiar with this area.

Thanks very much.

Dan Galvin and Linda Wilson: Grand Avenue is outside our project boundaries so we won't be closing anything there. You won't have any problem from us.

Dan

suzyjax: With Phase 2, I believe that I-70 between the innerbelt and downtown will be more used than during Phase 1. Does MoDOT think this is so? And, if so, is there any chance of seeing the reversible express lanes actually "reverse"?

Dan Galvin and Linda Wilson: There is a possibility that I-70 will be used more with the second phase. We have been and will continue to monitor the volumes and the split of traffic on I-70 with the reversibles every week. So far since we made the switch on January 8, the traffic counts have continued to show more volume westbound I-70 in the morning and more volume eastbound I-70 in the evening. If that split changes, we will change the directional flow of the reversibles.

Linda Wilson

James: I want to bike over and check out the new section on December 14th with my kids, not participate in some organized ride across or anything. Am I going to have to pay the $35 bikeride fee just to look around for a bit? If I walk my bike is it free or if I have a bike with me will I be blocked from entering?

Great job with the chats and the quick phase 1.

Dan Galvin and Linda Wilson: Bikes and pedestrians will be allowed for free on the eastbound side of the highway, while the organized bike and run events will be on the westbound side.

Dan