St. Louis - Skating HWY 40??

[SMSpiff]

So I'm off at college but I heard from the fam that the city may be opening up the newly constructed portion of HWY 40 to pedestrian and bicycle traffic for a week before it is officially drivable. This could mean miles and miles of fresh pavement possibly available to longboarders. Has anyone still living in STL heard anything about this?

[bean-a-reano]

I would love for this to be true. Maybe JBH has heard this?

[angelopb]

I went to SLU way back when. Fresh pavement in STL? Wow. Things have changed. I would hit it before they open it up.
Let us know how it is. Pics.

[SMSpiff]

I'll be back in town for Thanksgiving anyway. I'll try and get an update. If it isn't true I can at least snap some pics for you.

[flacke]

So what's up any news about this opening?

This is all I could find: "To celebrate the opening, a party will be hosted the Dec. 14 on the closed section, activities will include a 5-K run." from the St. Louis Business Journal Nov.14th. 2008

Edit: I just received this email:

Dear Michael,

The highway is completely open for the public to walk, run, bike, etc from
noon to 3 on Sunday, Dec 14. You can get on at any interchange from Ballas
to Brentwood. We will have parking available at the Frontenac Hilton and
Le Chateau Village at Lindbergh and Clayton or the Metro Meridian garage on
Eager with a free shuttle down to the ramp at Brentwood.

Here's the link to the full list of organized activities on the road. The
organized activities do have fees, so you may just want to come on the open
side and do your own thing.

http://www.thenewi64.org/Newsroom.do Scroll down a bit to the West End
Opening heading.

Again eastbound lanes are open to the public. Westbound lanes will have
pre-registration organized activities.


Eve E. Black
Customer Service Representative
Missouri Department of Transportation
eve.black@modot.mo.gov
314-340-4302

[bean-a-reano]

OH snap....hope it doesn't snow.

[SMSpiff]

I'm stuck in Indiana until the 18th.

Maybe they'll do the same thing for the portion from 170 to the river...

[SMSpiff]

How's the weather in STL? Did anyone make it out for the opening?

[flacke]

I went out. The weather was great though cloudy. East bound was a people slalom course but west bound was wide open. I saw one other longboarder from Michigan(?) and a few shortboarders. I was surprised at the negative response I got from some people here. A lot of "crinkled brows" and no reply as I said Hi and pushed passed spandex clad bikers. I avoided wizzing by peds as not to piss anyone off. With that said there were a few cool people that smiled and said "hang ten!" or asked me questions. The hills were short and I worked up quite a sweat doing the whole stretch a few times.

All in all it was cool. I probably stimulated the longboard economy a little and expanded a few Christmas lists as every kid I passed watched me carve away, pointing and tugging at their parents arm.

[bean-a-reano]

Nice, I was planning, but family plans and the weather put a stop to it. Glad to hear someone made it.

[SMSpiff]

Excellent! I'm happy someone had a chance to check it out. Wish I could have been there.

[tphand]

i went and boarded it, met one of the construction company owners who had his Ford GT out there.