Council May Provide Local Cost Share for I-70 Corridor Study

A majority of City Council members said on Tuesday night that they may support participation in a study on improving traffic conditions along the Interstate 70 corridor extending west.

The Federal Highway Administration would complete the study along the corridor extending from I-270 in St. Louis County, across the Blanchette Bridge, west as to near Lake Saint Louis.

St. Charles City Engineer Kevin Corwin said the council is expected to act on a request to provide $50,000 share of the study at their meeting on March 20.  St. Charles County local governments are putting up much of the $375,000 local cost share of the projects.

Other cities asked to  provide $50,000 are St. Peters, O’Fallon, Wentzville, with Lake Saint Louis asked to provide $25,000.  St. Charles County is being asked to provide $100,000.

According to the city clerk’s office,  Councilwoman Laurie Feldman, Ward 3, was the only council member who said they would not support the allocation.

Corwin said the overall I-70 Corridor study is expected to include traffic and other information from local studies of major intersections along the interstate.  The larger study also will look at economic impacts.

One of those local studies is one looking at a range of ways to improve Zumbehl and Cave Springs interchanges to reduce traffic on I-70. The city has contracted with Crawford, Bunte and Brammeier for the study, largely paid by the St. Charles County Road Board.

The study has looked at one frontage or outer roads in the area, which is one way to move traffic efficiently, which some councilmen have concerns might affect businesses.

Business owners located along the outer roads of I-70 near Cave Springs and Zumbehl Road attended a workshop on Jan. 25 to discuss possible improvements to those interchanges.

Corwin said there was no action taken concerning the local study.  He said council members were told that the study is moving forward.