Truman Parkway To Continute to 18th Street
Major traffic from I-44 & I-55 going to and from downtown used to take 14th & Tucker. But in 2003 work began on the Truman Parkway, where Grattan Street once existed.
Currently the parkway is short — from Lafayette on the south to Chouteau on the North. Phase II, completed last year, was the reconfiguration of the I-55 on and off ramps.
Phase III will see the Parkway continue to 18th street, cutting across existing open lots at a slight angle. For those coming and going to Union Station and other places in west downtown this will be quite helpful by avoiding the 18th & Chouteau intersection a stones throw to the west.
But once completed, everyone will avoid the 18th & Chouteau intersection. Why? It will be eliminated.
Yes, if you are on 18th Street heading south from downtown it will bend and morph into the Truman Parkway in front of AmerenUE’s offices.
When I am bicycling or scootering I often take Mississippi Street through Lafayette Square and then take Chouteau briefly before turning onto 18th to go downtown. Upon completion of this project my easy cut through will be erased.
This will force me onto an arguably higher speed road or to change my route. My choices for crossing Mill Creek Valley are Jefferson to the west (a much worse alternative) or going over to 14th. The 14th Street route is fine unless I’m head to places west such as the Tap Room at 21st & Locust.
Lafayette Square residents have had 18th blocked on the south side of Chouteau for a number of years. Understandably, they didn’t like their neighborhood used as a high-speed access route to the highways. Still, I rather like the arrangement of buildings at 18th — following the curve of the street. The neighborhood has plans for this area which may include some small park space but it will mostly be parking for adjacent businesses.
One more interesting urban setting lost due to the car.
– Steve
The Truman Parkway path is a missed opportunity for new housing that the city will grow to regret — espcially considering how little use it gets aside from rush hours.
Convince Lafayette Square interests to reopen 18th. Once through-traffic is diverted to Truman/18th viaduct, there is little need to keep 18th closed at Chouteau. PDA also needs to talk with Ameren about better uses for the land resulting from the re-routing than surface parking.
All development opportunities aside, Truman Parkway is still 1,000 times better than the fortunately killed I-755 plans. Truman is envisioned as the new alternate to Tucker for motorists, since 14th has become less of a cut-through. Tucker itself, south of Chouteau, has landscaped medians planned.