The Missouri Highways and Transportation Commission recently selected Millstone Weber as the design-build contractor for its I-270 North highway construction project in the St. Louis area.
The $278 million project runs along I-270 from I-70 on the west to west of Riverview Drive. The design-build endeavor seeks to improve reliability within the I-270 corridor, link communities, and enhance traffic operations so that the public has a durable and maintainable transportation network.
“The I-270 North Project is MoDOT’s largest single project in the last decade," Missouri DOT (MoDOT) Director Patrick McKenna said in a statement. "It will replace aging infrastructure, enhance safety and resiliency of the system, and improve mobility for freight and passengers, all while creating an economic boost for nearby communities. MoDOT’s design-build model to scale the scope of work to match existing resources has worked well for us, and I believe it will with this project, too."
According to MoDOT, challenges within the corridor include safety. Reports show that both directions of I-270 have higher than average rates of severe crashes. They also indicate higher-than-average crash rates, with eastbound I-270 showing an average crash rate 30% higher than the statewide average for interstates. Other challenges include the corridor’s position as one of the heaviest traveled interstates in Missouri—140,000 vehicles, of which 18% are heavy trucks, travel it daily. In addition, the corridor offers limited pedestrian facilities.
MoDOT’s project team will meet with Millstone Weber over the next several months to fine-tune project elements and the construction approach. Improvements planned for the project include:
- Reconstruct interchanges at U.S. Route 67 (Lindbergh), Hanley/Graham Roads, New Florissant Road, Washington St./Elizabeth Ave., West Florissant Ave, News Halls Ferry Road, Old Halls Ferry Road, and Route 367
- Additional lane of pavement on I-270 in both directions from U.S. Route 67 (Lindbergh) to Route 367
- Improve accessibility for bicycles and pedestrians with shared use paths from Lindbergh to Breezy Point Lane along Dunn Road, and from Hanley/Graham Roads to Old Halls Ferry Road along Pershall Road
- Improve safety with an updated outer road system that includes outer road conversions and removal of cross over slip ramps.
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SOURCE: Missouri DOT