|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Issue: 1000 Date: 10/22/2009
|
|
RCGA Leaders Impressed With I-64 Progress During Special Tour
|
|
|
|
 |
| MoDOT Director Pete Rahn, left, conducts a briefing about the I-64 project. |
|
|
Missouri Department of Transportation Director (MoDOT) Pete Rahn led a group of RCGA Board and Leadership Circle members on a special tour this past Wednesday of the new I-64 for an up-close, advanced look at the eastern portion of the project opening later this year. What we saw and learned first-hand was most impressive.
This $535 million reconstruction of I-64 is the largest highway construction project ever done in Missouri --- and it is a project that merits high praise. Pete Rahn, I-64 Project Director Lesley Hoffarth, District Engineer Ed Hassinger, Gateway Constructors and the whole MoDOT team have done an outstanding job. Pete thanked the business community for its support and cooperative efforts, as well, noting the early civic advocacy by RCGA leadership in advancing the concept for the "design build" approach --- including extensively researching the concept through the Private Sector Infrastructure Council under the leadership of then-PSI Council Chairman Bob Reynolds, and subsequently advocating its passage through the Legislature.
Initially, deciding to do Missouri's first design-build project on the New I-64 wasn't without controversy. The region-wide business community was very concerned about the lengthy disruption that could come with such a massive reconstruction project. RCGA leaders dug into the issue. In the Fall of 2000, a dozen area leaders from RCGA, MoDOT and the design, engineering and construction industry visited Salt Lake City to meet with then-Gov. Michael Leavitt and his DOT leaders to study its design-build highway project already underway ?a must-do project for the 2002 Winter Olympics. The massive effort we saw being so closely and well-choreographed convinced us design-build was the way to go on the I-64 project. The result? MoDOT accelerated what would have been a 7-year construction project to just 3 years, with the public experiencing road closures for only 2 of those years. And, using design-build saved $200 million.
Director Rahn praised the business community for its active support on the I-64 project -- particularly the great job individual businesses have done helping to inform employees and customers about alternative access during the 2 years when motorists adjusted to the shutdown of this major regional artery. MoDOT issued nearly $1 million in business outreach grants for efforts such as Project GetAround St. Louis managed thru the CVC, MidMetro4 and other successful programs that helped to reduce congestion and to promote business access and visibility.
The New I-64 is notable not only for the 10 miles of highway reconstruction, the 32 bridges replaced and the 12 new interchanges rebuilt, but it is also among the "greenest" projects ever. 456,000 tons of concrete and asphalt has been recycled and reused on the project. Steel rebar, guardrail, signs and lights were recycled. No material went into landfills. Some 3,700 trees along the alignment have been replanted and Forest Park gained 7 new acres of parkland with the new configuration of the alignment.
Most impressive --- the project is on track to be completed under budget and ahead of schedule.
|
|
 |
| From left: Linda Wilson, MoDOT; Eric Rhone, Visions Management Group; Ed Hassinger and Lesley Hoffarth of MoDOT; Roman Kulich, Coventry Health Care; Peter McLoughlin, St. Louis Blues Enterprises; David Thomas, Logos School; and Gil Bickel, St. Louis Arch Angels and Mayor, City of Huntleigh. |
|
|
