Ask the Patch Pro: MoDOT Answers Your Questions

Linda Wilson Horn January 18, 2013 at 03:28 pm

Mike -- I'm guessing this comment is back in reference to the Telegraph to eastbound I-255. Is that right?

Linda Wilson Horn January 18, 2013 at 03:29 pm

That doesn't sound right. Sounds like a sensor could be out. I will have one of technicians check the equipment. Anytime you see something like this, you can call MoDOT's 24/7 Customer Service Center at 314-275-1500. They can get someone out right away to check on it.

Linda Wilson Horn January 18, 2013 at 03:31 pm

I'm not aware of any changes to this route lately. What time of day are you experiencing this and which direction are you traveling. The traffic engineers need that information to look into your concern.

mike January 18, 2013 at 03:35 pm

Yes. The on ramp to 255 from telegraph south is used heavily by trucks that move very slow. Dump trucks for example. The line in the afternoon can stretch the length of the bridge

Joe P. January 18, 2013 at 03:41 pm

Why are there still construction cones on 141 between Ladue and Olive? Creating a speed trap, I have yet to see anything being worked on there for the past month or more.

Linda Wilson Horn January 18, 2013 at 03:56 pm

Crews are still doing landscaping work to do as weather permits. It will be finished by spring. I don't believe we have the speed reduced all the time any more. The speed limit should only be reduced when the cones are blocking a lane. If you see speed reduced signs and no lanes are closed, you can immediately call our 24/7 customer service center at 314-275-1500.

Linda Wilson Horn January 18, 2013 at 03:57 pm

thanks. I will share those details with the traffic engineers and see what they can do.

Linda Wilson Horn January 18, 2013 at 04:05 pm

I'm checking with our traffic engineers to see what is going on here. I'll post more today as I get information.

Pat J January 18, 2013 at 04:08 pm

Regarding the Hwy. M exit on I-55 south of Imperial, I understand re-doing the southbound side of the exit-was a mess! My question regards the northbound side. That was a lot of work (and probably money) used to make that change. Was it necessary? Seems to me that side of 55 was ok. I don't drive by there every day, were there accidents on that side , or some other reason that all those changes were done?

Nathan Kirsch January 18, 2013 at 04:14 pm

pointless question if it's already approved and done... lol

Geri Kirsch January 18, 2013 at 04:31 pm

Hi, thanks for helping us out. Please look into the intersection of Hwy. 94 and O'Fallon Road in St. Charles County. There is a pot hole there now for what seems like years and no one will fix it. It is frustrating. Thanks very much

Linda Wilson Horn January 18, 2013 at 04:35 pm

Which direction of 94 is the pothole in? Is it westbound heading toward I-64/40 or the other direction?

Bob Franey January 18, 2013 at 05:02 pm

Linda
Lemay Ferry Road between Mehl and the 255 Entrance Ramp the Stop Lights are not syncronized leading to long backups in the am and pm rush hours. Is this something that can be looked at?

Linda Wilson Horn January 18, 2013 at 05:51 pm

Yes. I can have the signals looked into. Which direction are you traveling? I would assume the backup is northbound in the morning and southbound in the evening. But the direction you are experiencing the problem is really important to know so the engineers know what to look for.

Linda Wilson Horn January 18, 2013 at 06:11 pm

All of the improvements at I-55 and M were built because traffic volumes at this interchange had increased dramatically in the past decade. The new ramps will be able to more safely and efficiently handle this traffic.

Linda Wilson Horn January 18, 2013 at 06:14 pm

I checked with our maintenance crews and they said there is a leveling problem with the grate on the right turn from westbound Manchester to Mason Road. Our maintenance crews are working on a plan to correct this problem.

From my view January 18, 2013 at 06:34 pm

The stoplight at Laclede Station and Manchester (Hwy 100) in Maplewood was adjusted before the I-64 shutdown. It has never been adjusted back to a sensor timing. Is that the state or St. Louis county? Many people run this light across Manchester at night when there is no traffic because the light is extremely long in changing.

Kathie Tryson January 18, 2013 at 06:38 pm

How long is the Vandeventer exit from/entrance to Highway 40/64 going to be closed? It seems like we just lived through the Highway 40 closure for a year, then Grand Boulevard over Highway 40 closed for more than a year, and now this. I commute from U City to the Tower Grove area and am tired of always having to find alternate routes.

Linda Wilson Horn January 18, 2013 at 06:59 pm

It actually might be Maplewood's. Inside the city limits of Maplewood, they own Manchester Road. This looks like it is right on the line and I'm not sure whether the city limits fall west of Laclede Station or east of it. I will have our traffic engineers double check it.

Linda Wilson Horn January 18, 2013 at 07:08 pm

We had hoped to rebuild the four bridges east of Kingshighway when we did the big I-64 project in 2007-2010, but there just wasn't enough money available at that time. BJC has also pitched in on this one to add new ramps so when we are done there will be more access to this area off the interstate and hopefully will relieve Kingshighway traffic some. I don't have the exact dates for the Vandeventer ramp. What I have so far from the contractor is that the ramp from Vandeventer to westbound 64 will close January 25. The ramp from eastbound I-64 to exit to Vandeventer will close late spring/summer. I don't think these will be closed the entire time, but I don't have exact dates right now. The majority of the work is going to be finished at the end of 2013 with some things rolling through spring 2014. To stay up to date on what is closing/opening and when, here's a link to our project webpage: http://www.modot.org/stlouis/major_projects/TowerGroveInterchange.htm

Linda Wilson Horn January 18, 2013 at 07:46 pm

I found out this signal is controlled by St Louis County. You would need to contact them.

Linda Wilson Horn January 18, 2013 at 07:49 pm

Our traffic engineers reported back to me that there isn't anything else they can do at rush hour. It is just extremely congested with the access on and off the interstate. Sorry.

Deanne Petersen January 18, 2013 at 08:21 pm

For years the westbound 64/40 Daniel Boone bridge has had lights at night to help drivers due to the narrow lanes. I've noticed, at least over the past several weeks, that the lights are no longer on at night. I'm just curious if there is a reason for this?

Linda Wilson Horn January 18, 2013 at 08:35 pm

The lights are just for extra safety since the bridge is so narrow. The conduit to the lights tends to get hit a lot and we have to fix it. I will get a maintenance report that they need to be repaired again. Your headlights are actually sufficient to light the road. The lights are just an additional safety precaution. This bridge will be removed in late 2015 after we build the new bridge, so we only have a couple more years of driving on it.

Linda Wilson Horn January 18, 2013 at 09:04 pm

I'm signing out for the day. Thanks for all the great questions today. Remember if you see a pothole or malfunctioning signal or any other problem, you can call MoDOT's 24/7 Customer Service at 314-275-1500.

Jordan Lanham (Editor) January 18, 2013 at 09:09 pm

Thanks so much for your time Linda! We appreciate you answering all of these great questions!

Tim January 19, 2013 at 05:09 am

I have a street light out on the corner of new florissant and spring dr. has been out for a few weeks makin the whole area pretty dark. how do i go out having a crew look at it?

David Altman February 25, 2013 at 05:53 am

On northbound 141 between Ladue and Olive, is it my imagination or is the far right lane which is an exit only lane for Olive, narrower than other two lanes?

Phil Gonzalez March 18, 2013 at 12:46 pm

Who is in charge of the bridge & road construction at Hanna & Vance & Fishpot creek and Hanna?
There has not been any work done to FINISH the road now that the bridge is in. This is UNACCEPTABLE.

Patty Burnley March 18, 2013 at 04:04 pm

Why are there so many holes in the road on the Maryland Heights Expressway between 364 and Marine?