This project is called the Page-Olive Connector. It is the last piece of potential new roadway between the Maryland Heights Expressway and Route 141. The limits of the project are between River Valley Drive on the north and Olive Boulevard on the south.
St. Louis County conducted an environmental study via consultant (in conjunction with the cities of Maryland Heights and Chesterfield). The study followed MoDOT and FHWA guidelines which will comply with the requirements of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). The Location Study and Environmental Document was prepared as an Environmental Assessment (EA) and approved on July 9,2009 with a Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI)
Now that the study has been approved we can move into the right-of-way acquisition and Design-Build stage. The right-of-way stage should take approximately 14 months to acquire after the plans are approved, which happen in late July of 2009. There were some minor modifications to the plans in October 2009, these modifications did not change the takings, just used more accurate terminology to describe the takings.
The extension of Route 141 is part of the regional Long Range Plan (Legacy 2035). The segment from River Valley Drive to Olive Boulevard is a priority project for St. Louis County. The segment is an illustrative project on Legacy 2035. The regional benefit in terms of mobility, economic prosperity and job creation supported the expenditure of local money on the extension of this route.
MoDOT has a role in this project as a partner with the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) in the review of the Environmental Document that must be prepared prior to the design of this project. The study was prepared in compliance with MoDOT and FHWA guidelines. MoDOT and FHWA have oversight of the Procurement, Design & Construction of the project. This is typical on federally funded projects.
Design-Build involves a single entity providing both design and construction through a single contract between the agency and the Design-Build contractor.
The construction costs are still being refined. St. Louis County is planning a fixed price Design-Build contract for $55 million. This price was recently increased to $58 Million to reflect the Metropolitan Sewer District (MSD) work that was added to the scope of the project.
It is anticipated that construction could begin in early 2010 and be complete in Summer of 2012.
This project serves three purposes: 1) to relieve traffic congestion on the local road system in the vicinity, such as Creve Coeur Mill Road, Fee Fee Road, and River Valley Drive; 2) provide a connection between two major suburban arterials, Earth City Expressway and Route 141; and 3) to serve the anticipated development of the Missouri River bottoms.
There is broad public and private support for the project. This project has been identified in planning documents at the local and regional levels. Support is further demonstrated by the public and private financial support for the project.
This project will significantly reduce the amount of traffic on Creve Coeur Mill Road. Once the Route 141 extension is completed from Ladue Road to Olive Boulevard, the entire system will provide significant traffic relief to the existing Route 141, and the Route 141/Olive Boulevard signalized intersection. Additionally, there is expected to be some traffic relief at the intersections of Olive Boulevard and Fee Fee Road, and even as far away as Fee Fee Road and Bennington Road.
St. Louis County will acquire property from 12 separate property owners, of which 3 are total acquisitions. These three total acquisitions consist of one residential property, one residential/business property, and one unimproved property.
This study was conducted to understand the nature of the environmental resources in the area and then to locate these resources to the extent practicable. The most-favored practice is to avoid the resource altogether, but if that is not possible, the next step is to minimize the impact to the resource. Some impacts may require mitigation such as construction of new wetlands near the project area to replace those that are impacted by the project.
It has not been determined whether or not this will be an extension of Highway 141; however, if MoDOT were to assume maintenance of this project and the Maryland Heights Expressway, it is likely that it would be designated as Highway 141.
No. That project has already been studied by MoDOT and is currently under design. It is not known at this time when that section will be constructed.
The State is acquiring right-of-way for the section of Highway 141 south of Olive Boulevard to the vicinity of St. Luke's Hospital, with construction beginning in Spring 2010. The Page-Olive Connector study is also evaluating adding additional lanes to the Maryland Heights Expressway from Page Avenue north to River Valley Drive, and from Page Avenue south to Waterworks Road. Two lanes of this latter section were just completed.
The American Recovery and Reimbursement Act, St. Louis County, The City of Maryland Heights and The City of Chesterfield will be funding the construction, design and right-of-way.
St. Louis anticipates constructing 2 lanes in each direction and will challenge the Design-Build teams to construct 3 lanes in each direction with current funding.
Yes, the majority of the corridor will be utilized to construct the project.
Most likely, residents will access the new roadway at Olive Boulevard.
Stormwater retention will be provided, if necessary, as part of the construction.
The public meetings and comment period for the Environmental Assessment phase of the project are complete. General public updates regarding progress of the project will be provided via this Web site.
