WENTZVILLE, MO (KTVI-FOX2now.com) -
Traffic is flowing freely again on Highway 40 on a St. Charles County section that's been slowing commutes for decades. MODOT has taken the last stop light out along 40-64 near Wentzville, and plenty of commuters are downright giddy.
"It was the last really the last bump in the road," says MoDot's Jim Gremaud about one of four "bumps" that have slowed commutes for decades.
"There was one at K, N prospect road and Callahan," Gremaud says about the commute west along 40/64 through St. Charles County. As of Wednesday there are no signal lights much to the delight of drivers.
"Coming home it could be 20 minutes to a half hour," says Wentzville commuter Jamie Roberts, "oh it was fabulous just drive straight through very exciting." Exciting because whether you live in this part of the county or not you likely have been caught in the slow down at that stop light.
"Especially on Fridays," admits Gremaud, "people trying to get out of town it was not unusual for there to be a mile or more back up all trying to get through that last traffic light."
The Callahan Road traffic light toppled signaled the near end of a project that has been 20 years in the making to turn a stop and go Highway 40 into a free flowing Interstate 64.
"We started I think it was early 1997 with the first project which was the Lake St. Louis interchange we've been working on it ever since for the past 12 years," tells Gremaud, "there were four signal crossings but we had a lot of out grade crossings where people could just pull out of the freeway those were kind of dangerous."
Safety has been improved and for folks who suddenly have 15-20 extra minutes thankfully so has smoothness.
"We've lived out here for five years," tells Roberts, "and I have been driving out to Chesterfield that long and its amazing its so wonderful to have all those stoplights gone, oh my gosh yes there is a smile on my face."
Construction remains until right about the time 40/64 in St. Louis City and County is completed with the next two months.
"It was the last really the last bump in the road," says MoDot's Jim Gremaud about one of four "bumps" that have slowed commutes for decades.
"There was one at K, N prospect road and Callahan," Gremaud says about the commute west along 40/64 through St. Charles County. As of Wednesday there are no signal lights much to the delight of drivers.
"Coming home it could be 20 minutes to a half hour," says Wentzville commuter Jamie Roberts, "oh it was fabulous just drive straight through very exciting." Exciting because whether you live in this part of the county or not you likely have been caught in the slow down at that stop light.
"Especially on Fridays," admits Gremaud, "people trying to get out of town it was not unusual for there to be a mile or more back up all trying to get through that last traffic light."
The Callahan Road traffic light toppled signaled the near end of a project that has been 20 years in the making to turn a stop and go Highway 40 into a free flowing Interstate 64.
"We started I think it was early 1997 with the first project which was the Lake St. Louis interchange we've been working on it ever since for the past 12 years," tells Gremaud, "there were four signal crossings but we had a lot of out grade crossings where people could just pull out of the freeway those were kind of dangerous."
Safety has been improved and for folks who suddenly have 15-20 extra minutes thankfully so has smoothness.
"We've lived out here for five years," tells Roberts, "and I have been driving out to Chesterfield that long and its amazing its so wonderful to have all those stoplights gone, oh my gosh yes there is a smile on my face."
Construction remains until right about the time 40/64 in St. Louis City and County is completed with the next two months.
