Community Corner

Traffic Ahead: If You Go Downtown, Take I-44

All lanes on eastbound I-64 in downtown St. Louis will close this weekend.

Who is a bigger "Traffic Troublemaker" than a driver texting and talking on the phone—no one?

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) called this week for every state to ban non-emergency use of portable electronic devices for all drivers.

A horrific crash on I-64/40 at Mason Road July 2008 killed and mamed many, and officials said a truck driver was distracted reaching for a cell phone when he plowed into 20 cars stopped in traffic.

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In another crash August 2010 on I-44 in Gray's Summit, two were killed and 35 injured when a driver was "most likely distracted from the driving task by a text messaging conversation at or near the time of the accident," according to the NHSB.

Is banning use of phones too extreme? Unrealistic? Necessary? Write a comment below to let us know.

MoDOT work zones for December 15-21:

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  • All lanes on eastbound I-64 in downtown St. Louis will close this weekend.
  • In downtown St. Louis, all lanes on eastbound I-64 from Jefferson to 6th Street will close this weekend.
  • The closures will occur from 8 p.m. Friday until 8 p.m. Sunday for bridge work.
  • Motorists are urged to use Jefferson to I-44 as a detour to get downtown.
  • Eastbound ramps at Pine Street, Forest Park and Ewing will close at 7 p.m. Friday until 8 p.m. Sunday.

Broadway or the 10th Street entrance ramps closed:

  • On westbound I-64, the Broadway or the 10th Street entrance ramps will also close from 5 a.m. to 8 p.m. both Saturday and Sunday.
  • Either ramp closure depends on if the left or right lane on westbound I-64 is closed.
  • Both ramps will not be closed at the same time.

Striping to continue on 270:

  • Crews will continue striping both northbound and southbound lanes of I-270 between I-70 and Olive Boulevard daily from 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., weather permitting.

On-going closures...

  • I-70, St. Louis City, right lane on eastbound I-70 closed from St. Louis Avenue to Broadway until summer 2012.
  • I-64, St. Louis City, eastbound 11th Street exit ramp closed weekdays 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
  • I-70, St. Louis City, express lanes are closed until mid-December.
  • I-70, St. Louis City, the ramp from eastbound I-70 to 10th Street has permanently closed.
  • Grand Blvd, St. Louis City, closed from I-64 to Chouteau by St. Louis City until mid 2012.


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