By Matt Sepic, KWMU
St. Louis, MO. – Leaders in St. Louis County say they want Highway 40 rebuilt one side at a time.
A county task force released its traffic management study Tuesday. It comes two weeks after the city of St. Louis released a similar study.
City leaders want to keep two lanes open in each direction during construction.
But Garry Earls with the county highway department says allowing traffic to move normally in one direction while closing the other side will make it easier for construction crews.
"The way we have proposed it, in phase one westbound would be closed for traffic, for us regular drivers," Earls says. "But it would be available then for the constructor, who would have unimpeded access to that 24 hours a day, seven days a week."
Earls says the project would be take about four years.
The county's plan is only a recommendation. MO-DOT will have the final say on road closures.
The department is expected to select a lead contractor for the Highway 40 overhaul in the autumn.