Portion of Vandeventer Avenue to close December 7

Construction to replace the 80-year old Vandeventer Bridge in St Louis will result in the closure of Vandeventer Avenue for approximately two months, beginning on December 7. Recognizing that Vandeventer Avenue is a major thoroughfare for area commuters, Metro has partnered with the City of St. Louis to plan a detour to keep traffic flowing through that area while work to replace the bridge continues. 



Future work on the
construction project will also affect MetroLink service, which will be
interrupted beginning Christmas weekend and continuing through January 3, 2010.
During that time, MetroLink passengers will be able to use specially designated
MetroBus vehicles to travel around the construction zone and continue their
commute.

Built in 1929, the
Vandeventer Bridge currently supports three rail tracks: two for MetroLink, and
a third for limited freight use. The construction project will completely
replace the 80-year-old bridge, which is experiencing significant settling and
deterioration. Additionally, the construction will improve traffic flow on
Vandeventer Avenue by increasing the bridge’s clearance height and widening the
roadway.

Construction of the new
Vandeventer Bridge is scheduled to be completed during the spring of 2010. This
construction project is one of several Metro will be working on over the next
year or so to enhance the transit system so that it continues to serve as a
vehicle to move our region forward.

In another story, Moving Transit
Forward, Metro’s
long-range comprehensive planning process, will begin round two of the public
engagement effort to address the St. Louis region’s transit needs on December
7. The meetings will provide an opportunity for the public to hear a summary of
the input received during the first round of public workshops held this past
October and an overview of the services being considered.

The comprehensive
long-range plan is being developed in collaboration with the East-West Gateway
Council of Governments (an organization of elected officials) and other key
stakeholders. The purpose is to create a 30-year transit plan that includes
short-term, mid-term and long-range goals. It will look at how the transit
system can improve quality of life for our community, bolster the regional
economy, improve customer service to the community and continue an established
tradition of operational excellence.