New Daniel Boone Bridge across Missouri River to include bicycle/pedestrian lane

The Missouri Highways and Transportation Commission has approved funding for an upgrade to the Daniel Boone Bridge, which carries traffic for I-64, U.S Route 40, and U.S. Route 61 across the Missouri River between St. Charles and St. Louis counties.

The approved plan for the new bridge span includes a protected/separate bicycle and pedestrian lane across the river. Construction is planned to start in 2013.

The lane is a key bicycle and pedestrian connection in the area and will connect the Katy Trail (on the north side of the Missouri River) to the Monarch Chesterfield Levee Trail on the south side of the river, and is generally an important link in this part of the St. Louis metro area for the trail and bikewalk system envisioned by the Great Rivers Greenway District.

The project fits within the goal of MoBikeFed's Vision of Bicycling and Walking in Missouri, to make bicycle and pedestrian accommodations on river crossings and bridges routine.  Just a few years ago, MoDOT would rarely or never include safe bicycle and pedestrian facilities on bridges, particularly if they are part of the interstate system, and now it is indeed becoming routine.  

More information about the bridge project is available on MoDOT's web site.

See a map of the area here. The St. Louis Post-Dispatch has more details about the project.

 

Photo credit: Daniel Boone Bridge by Americasroof. This file is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 2.5 Generic license.