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RICHMOND HTS, MO (KTVI-FOX2now.com) -
Rain, rain, go away say many drivers. Day three of gloom and gray skies equals three days pretty much lost on the Interstate 64/Highway 40 project. But officials insist the December 7 reopening date is a hard date.
"I've been living in St Louis for a couple of years and it's been going on forever," and for many like Sara Goree it has seemed like just that forever as it's been a long two years for those who have tried to be patient and put up with 40/64 being down.
"Hurry up with it already,; she says, "quit raining."
Of course there is excitement about that December 7th opening date but also worry after three crucial days of work were partially washed out.
"It would have to be biblical proportions of rain that would keep us from having it open on the seventh," says project spokesperson Dan Galvin.
December 7th is a deadline that MoDOT and Gateway Constructors knew they could meet and still can says Galvin that is thanks to how november started.
"We were able to catch up a lot during November," tells Galvin, "right now we are doing some of the final striping, a few slopes still need to be finished up some landscaping all the sound walls are in."
While the rain does slow some of the final touches down there is actually a couple of benefits to a few last minute rainy days.
"Looking at the bright side this does help clean off a lot of the mud from some of the excavation on the pavement so that helps out," admits Galvin, "(the rain) also allows us to test some of our drainage we have installed that's about the only up side to having rain on us."
While the mainline should be set for its target date more rain could push back another important openingÂ….Big Bend.
"Big Bend we are still on schedule to have that open sometime Friday afternoon," tells Galvin, "the county wants to come in and do some of the final striping and that can't happen until we have dry pavement."
The forecast should allow for that work to get done meaning at least some commutes can start to get back to normal before they all do December 7th, rain or shine.
"We have got a lot done that needed to be done in order to the hit that date."
"I've been living in St Louis for a couple of years and it's been going on forever," and for many like Sara Goree it has seemed like just that forever as it's been a long two years for those who have tried to be patient and put up with 40/64 being down.
"Hurry up with it already,; she says, "quit raining."
Of course there is excitement about that December 7th opening date but also worry after three crucial days of work were partially washed out.
"It would have to be biblical proportions of rain that would keep us from having it open on the seventh," says project spokesperson Dan Galvin.
December 7th is a deadline that MoDOT and Gateway Constructors knew they could meet and still can says Galvin that is thanks to how november started.
"We were able to catch up a lot during November," tells Galvin, "right now we are doing some of the final striping, a few slopes still need to be finished up some landscaping all the sound walls are in."
While the rain does slow some of the final touches down there is actually a couple of benefits to a few last minute rainy days.
"Looking at the bright side this does help clean off a lot of the mud from some of the excavation on the pavement so that helps out," admits Galvin, "(the rain) also allows us to test some of our drainage we have installed that's about the only up side to having rain on us."
While the mainline should be set for its target date more rain could push back another important openingÂ….Big Bend.
"Big Bend we are still on schedule to have that open sometime Friday afternoon," tells Galvin, "the county wants to come in and do some of the final striping and that can't happen until we have dry pavement."
The forecast should allow for that work to get done meaning at least some commutes can start to get back to normal before they all do December 7th, rain or shine.
"We have got a lot done that needed to be done in order to the hit that date."
