Cortex/Tower Grove Bicycle Connector Project Phase 1

Tower Grove and Vandeventer Avenues have emerged as major bicycle routes in Saint Louis, Missouri, serving as key connectors for cyclists and other road users. This project corridor spans five wards and six neighborhoods, linking residents, workers, and visitors to essential destinations, including the Saint Louis Language Immersion School, Missouri Botanical Garden, Tower Grove Park, and Interstate 55. By addressing critical mobility and safety concerns, this project will enhance accessibility for residents and businesses in the bordering neighborhoods, fostering economic revitalization and strengthening the city’s multimodal transportation network.

Project Location / Description

Phase 1 of this project covers a 2.2-mile corridor along Vandeventer Avenue, extending from Laclede Avenue in the north to Tower Grove Avenue and Magnolia Avenue in the south. As a key component of the City’s broader transportation strategy, the project aims to increase pedestrian, bicycle, and transit use while reducing traffic congestion. As development accelerates and traffic demand nears capacity, upgrading this corridor will enhance mobility and safety. The reconstruction will strengthen pedestrian and bicycle infrastructure while improving traffic management, supporting sustainable growth and a more efficient multimodal transportation network in central Saint Louis.

Project Objectives

Traffic Flow Improvements:    
•    Traffic signal replacement
•    Fiber optic signal interconnection
•    Upgraded traffic signal controllers and equipment
•    Relocation of Central Industrial Drive

Bicycle and Pedestrian Related Improvements
•    Protected 2-way
•    Hawk Signal – crosswalk signal activated by pedestrians
•    Upgraded sidewalks

Project Budget

Funding for this project is provided by Federal Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality (CMAQ) Grant, East West Gateway, and the City of Saint Louis.

•    Preliminary Engineering/Planning/Environmental Studies:    
                      o    Total Cost: $1000,000
                                              Federal Funds: $0   
                                              Local Funds: $1,000,000
•    Right of Way (ROW)
                     o    Total Cost: $100,000    
                                              Federal Funds: $0
                                              Local Funds: $100,000

•    Construction/ Engineering
           o    Total Cost: $400,000
                                              Federal Funds: $320,000
                                              Local Funds: $80,000
•    Construction/Implementation
                  o    Total Cost: $7,800,000
                                              Federal Funds: 6,560,000
                                              Local Funds: $2,740,000

•    Total Cost: $9,300,000
           o    Federal Funds: $6,560,000
           o    Local Funds: $2,740,000

Project Schedule
•    Engineering Services Contract Submitted and Approved: N/A
•    Public Meeting/Hearing: July 2021
•    Submit and Receive Approval for Proceed for Right of Way Acquisition 
      (A-Date): December 2021
•    District Approval of Plans, Specifications, and Estimates (PS&E) advertise for bids: August 2022 - October 2022
•    Project Implementation/Construction:Feburary 2023 - January 2024
 

Status

Construction Stage

Start Date

End Date

Project Map

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More Info

Ward

Ward 5

Ward 6

Ward 7

Ward 9

Ward 11

Neighborhood

Botanical Heights

Central West End

Forest Park Southeast

Midtown

Shaw

Southwest Garden

Park

Tower Grove Park

Documents

• broken-link-1137399

Photos