The City of St. Louis is pressing ahead with a major rebuild of the Union–Lindell interchange at the north edge of Forest Park that will replace two aging bridges, reconfigure approach roads, and add new traffic signals, bike lanes, and pedestrian walkways. Officials say the work will reshape a primary gateway into the park and will require extended closures and detours that will hit local commuters and park visitors alike. (stlouis-mo.gov)
SWT Design and HDR presented updated drawings to the Forest Park Advisory Board this week, and the advisory board voted to approve the concept as the project moves into a bid solicitation phase, according to FOX 2. The latest sketches show new signalized intersections, reconfigured ramps, and a slimmer roadway footprint that shifts priority toward protected bike lanes and pedestrian paths. (nextstl.com)
Design and safety upgrades
The project's city fact sheet explains that crews will demolish the two current side by side bridges and replace them with a single modern span that clears both Forest Park Parkway and the Metrolink tracks, while adding decorative street lighting, stonework, and upgraded pedestrian crossings. Planners also intend to reclaim excess paved width for protected bike lanes, wider sidewalks, and ADA compliant ramps that tie more directly into Forest Park. (stlouis-mo.gov)
Closures, detours and timing
First Alert 4 reports the board was told the Union and Lindell intersection will be closed for about a year and that a section of Forest Park Parkway could be shut for roughly six months, with traffic routed to DeBaliviere, Skinker, and Delmar while work moves ahead. Planning documents and a city project roundup indicate the work has moved into the bid phase and that crews are expected to begin construction in early 2027, although final dates depend on contractor selection and permitting. (First Alert 4)
Remembering the 2018 crash
Safety concerns at the crossing go back years, as a 2018 crash on Lindell sent a chunk of concrete onto Forest Park Parkway and killed a driver, Jan Torrisi Mokwa, local reports show, and neighbors have long pushed for a simpler, safer intersection. Those earlier incidents helped build momentum for a redesign that reduces conflict points and improves clearance above the parkway and rail corridor. (WRAL)
Next steps and public outreach
The Board of Public Service says public meetings and plan submittals will continue as staff prepares contract documents, and the city's project page and fact sheet lay out upcoming open houses, contacts, and the anticipated bid timetable. Residents and businesses near Forest Park are expected to receive more notices as the bid window closes and a contractor is selected ahead of the planned early 2027 start. (stlouis-mo.gov)
