Route 109 Will Be Closed Indefinitely
The caving-in problem of a section in Missouri Route 109 worsened over the night, so Missouri Department of Transportation engineers have shut down the highway due to safety precautions and to develop a new plan.
Photos
Missouri Route 109 between Turkey Track Road and Christy Road is now closed for an indefinite time, due to emergency repairs.
Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT) crews have been monitoring a portion of the route, which has been deteriorating notably since Sunday due to a poor foundation. That deterioration accelerated, requiring the closure, even though the highway was still open to traffic last night.
MoDOT engineers are on-site, and evaluating the situation to determine the next steps. The department's community relations manager, Andrew Gates, said the original plans were to address this foundational work in 2013 when a resurfacing project for Route 109 was slated.
But the pace at which the foundation is deteriorating calls for immediate action, Gates said.
Drivers are encourage to use Old State Road and Route 100 to detour around the closure.
Gates said MoDOT teams hope to have more details about the new repair plan by this afternoon's public meeting already scheduled about Missouri Route 109 at LaSalle Springs Middle School between 4 p.m. and 7 p.m.
Editor's Note: Business owners operating from the southernmost Wildwood Town Center area near the Wildwood Y and St. Louis Community College would like everyone to know they are still open for business, and easy to access from Highway 100.
Jeff Allee
10:45 am on Tuesday, March 8, 2011
YES! We are open even though radio stations were reporting this morning that 109 was closed at Manchester.
Julie Brown Patton
12:42 pm on Tuesday, March 8, 2011
MoDOT representatives will host a press conference at 1:30 p.m. regarding future plans for Missouri Route 109.
Tim
2:27 pm on Tuesday, March 8, 2011
Maybe now MoDot and Wildwood will realize that 109 is in really poor shape. It has needed upgrades for years with the amount of traffic it carries.
Julie Brown Patton
3:20 pm on Tuesday, March 8, 2011
Stay tuned for fresh photos taken at the scene of Route 109 -- wow, is the pavement truly sliding down the hill!
Laurie Crimmins
6:53 am on Wednesday, March 9, 2011
For people who live in Eureka and work at the Y, this is such a hassle!! And we've been through it twice before when they closed 109 to work on the running path. Adds a lot of time on to the commute.
D
9:00 am on Wednesday, March 9, 2011
The unfortunate events with deteriorating Route 109 highlights the need for a thorough assessment by MDOT on the quality and effectiveness of transportation routes in the area.
There is also a clear need to consider improved alternative routes for emergency evac reasons.
I've lived here 4 years and am suprised at all the planning and thought that goes into parks, bike trails, etc, but lack of focus on emergency preparedness (transportation, hospital access), etc.
Shannon S.
8:21 pm on Wednesday, March 9, 2011
Totaly agree with that. We have so many accidents on that road. If we have an emergency, the accidents would be ten fold or more.
Barb H.
4:53 pm on Wednesday, March 9, 2011
I know that Woods Road is open, as is Glencoe. So, heading south from Manchester should not be difficult.
Does anyone know if you are allowed to drive northbound, past Old State, in order to reach Woods Road to continue going North?
Shannon S.
8:17 pm on Wednesday, March 9, 2011
Shannon S.
I use Woods rd. Although I would not recommend it early in the morning between 7-8. Or in the evening from 4-6. That road is narrow with lots of blind turns. Some folks are getting to aggressive on this road. They are not watching their speed either.
For those of you who think this is annoying, think of how upset you'd be if you or someone you know slid into the into the ravine b/c it wasn't fixed. Stop complaining and wake up a bit earlier! It's your tax dollars at work folks.
Barb H.
8:50 pm on Wednesday, March 9, 2011
Thanks for your input. Woods Road is my backyard, and while I saw an increase in traffic, it didn't look horrible. I don't have to commute, but my husband does need to get to I-44. (Kinda sucks that we live across from the YMCA and the road is closed at Turkey Track). But, it still looks like an easier commute than when they closed 109 to replace the bridge at Woods Rd/109. I just wanted to make sure that he could get past the detour at Old State in order to get to Woods Rd.
John Rooney
1:46 pm on Sunday, March 13, 2011
We are open at Meadows of Wildwood. Follow the banners along generations drive next to the college and YMCA. Open Daily 11-5 pm
www.meadowsofwildwood.com
Thank you