Continuing the drive north from Sikeston to the Quad Cities, clouds dominated the day, and from Springfield northward, snow flakes joined the fray. Generally traveled northward along Interstate 55, with a loop onto the new I-64, I-270, and I-255 around St. Louis. Took Interstate 155 to Interstates 74/474 to the Quad Cities in light snow. Saw a pair of cars dislodged from the road, one of which was wrapped in barbed wire, the other perpendicular to the westbound carriageway within the median…
Route 755 was a freeway planned to bypass downtown St. Louis between Interstate 55 and 70. The only portions built were the interchange here (Exit 207C) and the one with Interstate 64 (Exit 39A).
Interstate 70 turns northward at this junction toward the Gateway Arch. A new alignment and span is planned to relocate Interstate 70 to the north, but funding issues are delaying any work on the new Mississippi River Bridge. If completed, Interstate 70 will no longer travel the Poplar Street Bridge and either an extension of Interstate 44 north of a newly designated Interstate 264 will begin here and join Interstate 55 with the new bridge.
Interstate 70 departs Interstates 55 & 64 and U.S. 40 at the west end of the Poplar Street Bridge from the right. Therefore drivers bound for I-70 are directed onto the local lanes.
The stretch of freeway between Exit 36A and Interstate 270 was reconstructed between 2008 and 2009 as part of the “New I-64” project. Completed on December 7, 2009, the work focused on a complete rebuilt of the aging freeway by closing entire sections of freeway for the construction. The sign pictured here indicates “completed as promised”, at the gateway to the revised stretch of freeway.
The new interchange facilitates movements between the two freeways with high speed flyovers. Previously motorists encountered a traffic light between the two highways. Additional work focused on the rebuilding of all overpasses, giving them a cosmetic facelift with decorative lettering and fencing.
Interstate 64 recently was extended through to Interstate 70, with the last traffic light along the previous divided highway removed by October 15, 2009.
Digital speed limit signs are posted periodically along the route, with the speeds set at 60 mph otherwise. This is similar to Interstate 495 in Delaware, Interstate 4 in Orlando, and Interstate 10 across Mobile Bay.
I was on the gateway arch in 2003 and it was great. It is just impressiv what was build there. And the museum is worth a look.