FAQs

1. What is this project?

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.

2. What is the history of this project?

This project is the last link in the middle of a highway corridor that extends from U.S. 61/67(Jeffco Boulevard) in Jefferson County to Highway 370 in northwest St. Louis County. The highway has been constructed in stages depending on available funding. The current project will meet Federal requirements for new roadway construction.

3. Has this segment been studied?

St. Louis County conducted an environmental study via consultant (in conjunction with the City of Maryland Heights). 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)

4. How was it determined that funding should be spent on this project?

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.

5. Does the Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT) have a role in this project?

MoDOT has a role in this project as a partner with the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) in the oversight of the project. The project is being prepared in compliance with MoDOT and FHWA guidelines. This is typical on federally funded projects.

6. What is Design-Build?

Design-Build involves a single entity providing both design and construction through a single contract between the agency and the Design-Build contractor.

7. How much will construction cost?

The construction was originally estimated to be $58 million. St. Louis County received a bid of $51,995,000 for the design and construction of the complete project.

8. When will construction begin?

It is anticipated that construction will begin in summer of 2010 and be complete in Summer of 2012.

9. Why do we need another new road?

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.

10. What kind of support is there for this project?

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.

11. How will this project affect or improve traffic congestion?

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.

12. How many homes and businesses will be impacted?

St. Louis County has acquired 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.

13. What is being done to minimize environmental impacts?

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. St. Louis County has developed a large mitigation plan in coordination with St. Louis County Parks Department and MoDOT. The plan develops 126 acres of deed restricted wetland. This is accomplished by transferring some of the water from Creve Coeur Creek to the mitigation site. Several wetlands have been established with the bottoms area, but they are water starved because the levee system. The diversion of water will supply this much needed element of a good stable wetland.

14. Will this road be designated as Highway 141?

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.

15. Does this project include the two-lane segment of Woods Mill Road from Olive Boulevard south of Ladue Road?

No.

16. When will other sections of Highway 141 be constructed? Will this section be constructed first?

The State opened bids in February, and issued a Notice to Proceed to Fred Weber in March of 2010. The completion of the two projects has been coordinated by St. Louis County and MoDOT to be completed in the summer of 2012.

17. Who is paying for this project?

The American Recovery and Reimbursement Act, St. Louis County, and the City of Maryland Heights will be funding the construction, design and right-of-way.

18. How many lanes will this road have?

The project will be constructed with 3 lanes in each direction from Olive Boulevard to River Valley Drive.

19. Will the reserved corridor adjacent to the Mill Ridge and Terra Vista subdivisions be utilized as part of this project?

Yes, the majority of the corridor will be utilized to construct the project.

20. How will residences east of existing Creve Coeur Mill Road access this new roadway?

Most likely, residents will access the new roadway at Olive Boulevard.

21. Will any additional stormwater retention ponds be required?

Stormwater retention is being constructed as part of this project per MSD regulations.

22. Will there be other public meetings?

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.