Just like the little engine — or mass transit train — that could, the MetroLink cross-county expansion just keeps on chugging along.
And December should bring more of the same as Metro chugs toward an anticipated project-completion date in mid-2006.
Mass excavation efforts will continue at the Skinker Avenue station at the intersection of Skinker and Forest Park Parkway. Concrete work is scheduled to begin at the Skinker tunnel.
Construction of the station entrance, at the southwest corner of that intersection, will continue, as well as substructure work for a pedestrian bridge. Concrete work will also continue at the tunnel west of DeBaliviere Avenue.
At the two other new stations adjacent to University campuses — the University City/Big Bend Boulevard and Forsyth stations, concrete work will continue, and shoring and excavation work will continue for a tunnel between Big Bend and Kingsland Avenue. Concrete work will continue in the tunnel between Big Bend and Pershing Avenue.
As with any major construction endeavors, minor side irritations will pop up once in a while. Again, the same holds true for the coming months.
The pedestrian crossing of Forest Park Parkway at Williams Avenue in University City is closed. All pedestrians should use the pedestrian underpass at Wellesley Avenue.
And Forest Park Parkway is closed between Union Boulevard in the city of St. Louis and Brentwood Boulevard in Clayton. The parkway is scheduled to re-open in 2005. Motorists are encouraged to use Interstate 64 (Highway 40) or Olive Boulevard as alternate routes.
Even the alleys of some housing units are being impacted.
From Dec. 7 and running for about two weeks, alleys behind homes on the south side of Pershing, between Williams and the east end of the alley, are closed from 7 a.m.-5:30 p.m.
This closure is necessary while Metro’s contractor constructs an underground room for signaling and communications systems that will be used for MetroLink operations.
Residents in that area who park their cars in their garages and need their vehicles during those days need to have their cars out of the garages before 7 a.m.
These dates and times may change in the case of bad weather or unforeseen conditions.
To receive a daily update on progress of the alley work, contact Jon Soucy with Metro Project Communications at jsoucy@metrostlouis.org or 982-1400, ex. 2709.