Thousands of cars poured into Chesterfield Valley for the opening of Taubman Prestige Outlets Friday morning, triggering traffic backups in the eastbound lanes off I-64 near the Boone's Crossing exit.
St. Louis County Police said a back-up during the rush around the store's opening at 9:15 a.m. extended about a mile from the exit, but subsided after they began allowing traffic to access the outlet's parking lots furthest back from the highway.
By 10:45 a.m. traffic was again moving normally along the highway, but it started slowing again shortly before 1:00 p.m., with long lines for cars waiting to exit the outlet center's parking lot. At 1:37 p.m., the Missouri Department of Transportation's Gateway Guide website had coded westbound I-64 in Chesterfield Valley in red.
Preparation for lane closures and bridge construction scheduled for this weekend further west on the highway could also be contributing to the traffic snarl. MoDOT is planning to reduce westbound I-64 to one-lane on Saturday from 8 p.m.-8 a.m. to work on the Spirit of St. Louis bridge.
As part of the development, Taubman was required to upgrade nearby roads and intersections. An extra right turn lane was added at the eastbound Boone's Crossing exit and the section of Outer 40 Road servicing the outlet was widened.
Chesterfield Mayor Bob Nation told Patch after the opening ceremony that an additional traffic improvement would be forthcoming.
Four St. Louis County police officers are assisting six from the Chesterfield Police Department to provide traffic control for the weekend. They will be in place Saturday from the morning until 2 p.m.
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