Linda Wilson of MoDOT and Dan Galvin of Gateway Constructors hold an online chat each Wednesday about Highway 40 (Interstate 64) construction and other highway issues. Submit questions at STLtoday.com/discussions. Here is an excerpt from last week:

Dailyvits: Does the new section of Highway 40 have fewer dips than the old? Fewer curves?? My concern is twofold. I'd like to know if my old commute on Highway 40 between Kingshighway and I-170 may have a minute or two shaved from it, and I used to notice bad drainage problems between McCausland and I-170.

Linda Wilson: We did take out some of the dips and smoothed down the hills a little. The basic location and curves of the road are still there. The drainage has all been upgraded, so we won't have "Lake Hampton" or the splashover from one side of the highway to the other anymore. The main cause of traffic was the old interchange decisions and especially the problems at Hanley and I-170. The new decision will help traffic flow much smoother.

Mark: What's the status on the Eager-Hanley construction? Still on time for a late-month opening?

Linda Wilson: Yes. The Eager-Hanley construction is on schedule to open at the end of October.

McCausland User: I am wondering when McCausland will reopen to four lanes in each direction. It looks like it is ready to go. Will this be a birthday present to me, since my birthday is Wednesday, Oct. 14?

Linda Wilson: By the end of the week, all of McCausland should be open to two lanes in each direction. The crews are working on the final touches and hope to have the southbound lanes of McCausland back to two lanes (earlier), weather depending. Then the northbound lanes of McCausland would be back to two lanes by the end of the week. So, happy birthday.