By AP/KWMU
St. Louis, MO – Lambert Airport's new billion dollar runway goes lives today (Thursday).
It was originally built to relieve congestion that now no longer exists. Lambert traffic fell after the September 11th attacks and again after American Airlines cut nearly half its flights there. But airport officials say it's still needed for future expansion, and they note the strip will be useful in bad weather, too.
More than 2,000 homes and businesses came down in nearby Bridgeton to make way for the strip. Opponents contend it's been a waste of money.