Mississippi Bridge Opens to Traffic
No, not a new bridge across the Mississippi River, but the revised bridge along Mississippi Ave over I-44 (see map). It appears that this bridge got a new deck as well as tall decorative fencing along each pedestrian walkway, it reopened yesterday. All over town we’ve got bridges closed for repair/replacement (or just closed due to condition), so it is pleasing to me to have this one open again. This bridge was part of my normal route to get to Gravois, even more so now that I have moved downtown.
Other bridges closed are the Jefferson viaduct and the Tucker bridge over the old rail lines into downtown. To the east of there, the Cass bridge over I-70 is closed. Lot’s of infrastructure to maintain. But hey, the bridge near Lafayette Square now has pretty fencing and lighting.
To be more serious though, the newly renovated bridge does have better pedestrian access. From the sidewalk level a row of concrete separates the pedestrian from passing cars. The tall fence along the outside takes away that uneasy feeling that I know I get when walking across bridges with lower railings.
I don’t recall this bridge. Anybody have a photograph?
I guess they had their ‘soft opening’ on Wednesday night, ’cause I drove the kids over it on the way home. They were very excited. Emme liked the lights and called it ‘beautiful.’ I think the railings seem a bit overly tall and clausterphobia inducing. I think they are as much for keeping kids from throwing things on cars as they are for protecting pedestrians. Remember the Russian immigrant stripper killed by the chunk of concrete several years back? At Tamm, maybe?
Pedestrian/bike access into the city from the south is unpleasant at best so I would sure like to see some thought and design treatment on Jefferson, Compton, 14th, and whenever they decide to replace Grand.
We actually saw you driving over the bridge this morning on our way in and on a side note, it looks like you might need some air in your rear tire.
And a real Mississippi bridge re-opens Saturday. The McKinley Bridge, closed for six years while IDOT reconstructed it, will reopen to bikes and pedestrians. It should be open to cars by the end of the month.
No tolls this time.
I heard somewhere the Gravois/Russell bridge over 44/55 is being scheduled for replacement. Now that will really tangle with South Side commutes. I had to do the Snoopy dance going over the new Miss bridge. Oh how I missed it.
What did it take, 3 months. The Jefferson Ave bridge is scheduled for 18 months, so make that 24 months with delays.
I rode my bike to work on this bridge all the time until it closed. Then I found a new route that turned out to be faster but less scenic. But what good is getting to work on time if you didn’t enjoy the ride?