By Matt Sepic, St. Louis Public Radio
St. Louis – Interstate 64 in St. Louis will reopen nearly a month early and $11 million under budget.
Missouri Department of Transportation Director Pete Rahn said Friday that the freeway will open to traffic between Interstate 170 and Kingshighway on Monday Dec. 7. The contractor, Gateway Constructors, had faced a Dec. 31 deadline, and the project was expected to cost $535 million.
St. Louis Mayor Francis Slay and St. Louis County Executive Charlie Dooley said the early re-opening is good news for both commuters and the many businesses affected by the shutdown.
The reopening will mark the end of major reconstruction work on about 10 miles of I-64 between Spoede Rd. in St. Louis County and Kingshighway Blvd. in the city.
Interstate 64 was first shut down in January 2008, when workers closed a section between Spode Rd. and I-170. The western half of the rebuilt road opened to traffic last December.
On Sunday, Dec. 6, the eastern half will be open to pedestrians and cyclists.
There will be a ribbon cutting ceremony at 3 p.m. that day, and officials will unveil a sign that dedicates the freeway to the late Cardinals broadcaster Jack Buck.