The Kingshighway viaduct over the railroad tracks just south of I-44, one of the most decrepit bridges in St. Louis, will finally get rebuilt next year.

Originally built in 1936, the viaduct is literally crumbling apart and is in dire need of replacement. The sidewalk passageways on both sides of the viaduct, which were once bus stops, have been closed for ages.

The City of St. Louis will hold a public hearing on Wednesday, May 2 to gather people’s opinion on the proposed changes. From the Notice of Public Hearing document released by the city:

Present viaduct will be demolished and replaced with a new viaduct having 3 lanes in each direction with 5 foot sidewalks on each side of the roadway and concrete barriers on the outsides. New roadway will be 90 feet wide within existing 100 foot right-of-way, and the existing side roads leading down to Daggett Avenue and to the UPRR tracks will be eliminated. Much of the open space currently under the roadway will be filled in. Shaw Blvd., east of Kingshighway, will be re-configured to the south and a south-bound turn lane will be added in Kingshighway to allow left turns onto east-bound Shaw. Aesthetically designed features consistent with the adjoining neighborhoods will be incorporated into the bridge railings and lighting fixtures.

If there’s a complaint to be had, it’s that pedestrians deserve better (i.e. wider) than the minimum 5-ft wide sidewalks currently planned for the new sidewalk. Small portions of The Hill will also lose some accessibility due to the closure of Daggett at Kingshighway, but it’s unlikely anything can be done about that.

Kingshighway Viaduct Public Hearing
Wednesday, May 2, 2012
4:00 PM
St. Louis City Hall, Room 210
1200 Market Street
St. Louis, Missouri 63103