In December 2018 MoDOT temporarily closed I-70 to remove an old pedestrian bridge at North Market Street. A similar pedestrian bridge was removed from over I-44 at Marconi Ave, and at other locations. Yesterday I checked out the new ADA-compliant replacement over I-70.
The East side of the new pedestrian bridge, along Northbound 10th Street, has a switchback ramp.
Before getting into the new bridge we should look at what it replaced. Interstate 70 was built decades before the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, so the old pedestrian bridge had stairs on each side.
This 2010 photo is from the West side along 11th Street. The stairs on each end went down in opposite directions.
Stairs make such a bridge impossible for those of us who use wheelchairs, but also difficult for people who walk using a cane or walker. They’re also a challenge to a parent pushing a stroller, cyclists, etc.
In April 2019 I snapped this image of construction on the new bridge as I was driving by. Yes, I drive too!
Yesterday’s weather was so nice I decided to check out the completed bridge. It was 1.2 miles just getting there from our apartment near 7th & Cass Ave. I did encounter missing curb ramps in a few places — often missing sidewalks. But I made it.
The access point on the East side of I-70 is at North Market Street. There is no painted crosswalk, no signs warning drivers to yield to pedestrians. No curb bulbs to narrow the crossing distance. Nothing. 10th Street traffic is one-way northbound — and it is fast.Once safely across 10th Street you see trash has accumulated. The city has equipment to clean streets but tight spots like this don’t get cleaned.From the base looking up the ramp to the landing. I use a power chair which had no problem with the incline. Being ADA-compliant means the maximum level should be acceptable to person using a manual wheelchair. Every so often there are level spots to give someone s rest.From the landing, looking back down.Looking South from the landingFrom the very top looking back at the landingLooking East at North Market Street from the top.Looking West across the level top of the bridge.Looking North at Northbound I-70.Looking South at Northbound I-70. The switchback ramp can be seen on the left.Looking South at Southbound I-70. The straight ramp on the West side (11th Street) can be seen on the right.From the West end of the bridge you get an excellent view of Jackson Place Park. This was the center of three circles in the original plan of the separate Village of North St. Louis.Looking South down the straight ramp on the West side (11th Street).Looking back up from the bottom.At the bottom you look across 11th Street at Monroe Street. A new curb ramp was built across the street. Like the other side, 11th is one-way and there is no crosswalk markings, signs, etc.Back up toward Jackson Place Park you can get an overview of the West side.
It is nothing fancy, but it gets the job done. Highways divided many neighborhoods, many previously connected streets permanently severed. I have no idea how much this cost, but it was worth every penny. The highway is still an at-grade divider at this point, but the bridge makes it possible for everyone to safely to cross over it.
Once the current pandemic is over I’ll take the bus to other new pedestrian highway bridges so I can compare. Yesterday I explored in Old North, got takeout from Crown Candy, and returned home 3.5 hours after leaving. Roundtrip was about 3 miles.
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