U.S. Route 40

From WikiLou

Contents 1 Infamous Events 2 Video 3 External Links 4 References

Formed: 1930s

Length: 41 miles

Western end: Wentzville at I-70

Eastern end: Poplar Street Bridge

Past Names: Daniel Boone Parkway (1940), Oakland Express Highway (1940-1948), Red Feather Express Highway (1948-???), Daniel Boone Expressway (1960s)

US Highway 40 (sometimes pronounced "Highway Farty" by the long-time residents), was built hastily during the World War II years to handle the increasing traffic demands caused by the growth of the suburbs. West of Lindbergh Blvd., the highway is actually two U.S. highways, US 40 and US 61. Highway 61 continues south along Lindbergh (also known as Highway 67 at this intersection. Improvements continued to be made to the highway into the 1960s, with minor improvements since then, up until the I-64 Construction Project to rebuild I-64/US 40 between Spoede Road and Kingshighway Blvd. that began in March 2007. The freeway had black guide signs (which remained up in sections until 1993) and lacked exit numbers until 1994.

The major features of the highway included the very dangerous Skinker section (which was known for fatal crossover accidents), tight exit ramps at several interchanges, two double-decked sections in the city limits, and low overpasses. The section west of Interstate 270 is considerably newer.

During the 1980s, the trucking industry found a loophole in regulations regarding overweight trucks and ordered their fleet to take Highway 40 through St. Louis instead of Interstate 70. This forced the Missouri Highway and Transportation Department (now MoDOT) to petition the federal government to include Highway 40 in the Interstate Highway System. In 1987, their petition was approved, and Interstate 64 shields started going up ↑  alongside the Highway 40 markers. Thus, the freeway now was for both Highway 40 and I-64, but most people, including the news media, in St. Louis continue to refer to the interstate as Highway 40. Incidentally, the Interstate portion of the highway extends only as far west as the Highway K interchange in O'Fallon, MO.

Infamous Events

Although Highway 40 is infamous in the St. Louis area, there are a few events that stand out from the rest:

• Monarch Levee submerges Highway 40, 31 July 1993. Despite efforts to keep 40 open, the Monarch Levee breached approximately 22:30 (CDT) on 30 July 1993. The highway remained underwater for two weeks, and was a gathering for gawkers until it reopened.

• Trash Truck accident, 18 May 1998. Approximately 14:00 (CDT), a trash truck taking the I-70 approach to the Poplar Street Bridge had a boom that came loose and hit the eastbound 40 approach to the bridge. This happened right before the afternoon rush hour and during a Cardinals game that was underway. This resulted in major change of driving habits for commuters that lived in Illinois for the next six weeks, as the eastbound 40 approach was closed until repairs could be made. The I-70 approach was also shut down for a time during the repairs.

• Praxair Explosion, 24 June 2005. Approximately 15:00 (CDT), an explosion occurred at the Praxair Plant in midtown St. Louis. This forced the temporary shutdown of Highway 40 during afternoon rush hour, and the brief delay of the Cardinals home game that evening.

Video

2007 KETC video about Highway 40:

Scenes of Highway 40 and I-270:

Another video done at high speed:

External Links

• Surviving Highway 40
• The New I-64 Official MoDOT website for the new construction of I-64/US 40

References

1. St. Louis Post-Dispatch, 16 August 1987 ↑ 

• St. Louis Post-Dispatch, 19 September 1994