August 17, 2016
Plotting a future for I-270 Learn & Play
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Pack a healthier lunchbox
Community Voices
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By Charlotte R. Beard
Traffic on I-270
Submitted photos
MoDOT is currently conducting a study on improvements to the North Corridor
Feature Section
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The Golden Years
By Sara Hardin Since spring of 2013, MoDOT’s I-270 North Environmental Assessment has been addressing concerns related to safety and mobility issues along the I-270 corridor stretching from I-70 on the west to the Chain of Rocks Bridge on the east. The assessment follows the I-270 Corridor Study that identified areas of the interstate in need of improvement, and is on track to be completed by the end of 2016. The assessment is required by the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) before construction begins in order to ensure that the plans for improvement to the corridor will meet goals without significantly impacting the surrounding environment. MoDOT will be able to continue on to the design phase as long as FHWA issues a Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) at the end of the study. Potential projects included in preliminary long-term concepts include improvements to existing two-way outer roads, creating a one-way outer road system and improving several interchanges. These changes are hoped to provide congestion relief and improve mobility and safety along the 16-mile-long corridor. “The corridor was built in the 1960’s, and much of it is in need of replacement,”
said Lisa Kuntz, MoDOT Area Engineer for North St. Louis County. “One of our main elements is to take care of our infrastructure and look at what kind of safety, mobility and accessibility improvements are needed along the corridor. While we’re making transportation improvements and investing in our existing infrastructure, we need to be sure that everything is done to make it better and make it work better for the community into the future, because it’s going to be there for 50-plus years.” Because the I-270 corridor is one of the most-traveled in the St. Louis metropolitan region, many who utilize the North Corridor have raised concerns regarding its aging infrastructure. Florissant Mayor Tom Schneider’s comments on rush hour traffic on the North Corridor raise concerns about environmental safety and the impacts on the surrounding commercial areas. “There has been a dire need to increase the capacity of I-270 for many years, and it is particularly log-jammed eastbound every business day evening causing bumper-to-bumper traffic for miles,” said Schneider. “This congestion leads to unnecessary pollution and waste of fuel and time, and is a detraction to commerce in
and around the city of Florissant.” Because of the number of interchanges and the complexity of the corridor, Kuntz explains that there is over $600 million worth of identified improvements that are needed, including replacing bridges, improving interchanges and creating additional lanes. While construction is still several years away, MoDOT is looking at See I-270 page 2
School
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Student awarded scholarship
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