Forward 44: Pavement and Bridge Improvement Project in St. Louis County

What is the current situation?

MoDOT will be making multiple road and bridge improvements along I-44 between Eureka and Valley Park in St. Louis County to take care of the existing interstate system. Work includes repairing pavement along the corridor to improve reliability and avoid costly replacement in the future. Bridge and culvert structures along the corridor need rehabilitation or preventative maintenance, while some structures nearing the end of their life cycle require a full replacement. Existing median barriers also need to be replaced to meet current standards.  Improvements will help keep the roadway safe and operational for the foreseeable future. 

What work will be completed as part of this project?

• Fixing the pavement and roadway surface where needed along I-44 between Eureka and Valley Park.
• Repairing several bridges on I‑44.
• Replacing the I-44 bridges at Williams Creek.
• Improving culvert structures on both sides of Williams Creek.
• Rebuilding the interstate median barrier.
• Adding safety improvements at Antire Hill.

How is the project being funded? 

MoDOT is spending more than $65 million on these pavement, bridge, and safety improvements along I-44 in southwest St. Louis County. The project is funded through legislatively designated funds, the Statewide Transportation Improvement Program (STIP) and Safety Improvements Funding. This work will improve this section of I-44 for everyone using it, now and in the future, while ensuring the ongoing safety and reliability of our infrastructure. 

What is Forward 44?

Forward 44 is an initiative by the Missouri Department of Transportation aimed at improving Interstate 44, a vital east-west link that has been a key freight corridor since its completion in 1966. The initiative addresses outdated design standards and safety components, ensuring that this vital route continues to meet both statewide and national transportation needs. You can find more information on Forward 44 here: Forward 44 | MoDOT.org

The following general themes were shared by the public during the May 12, 2026 public meeting at the Clarkson Valley City Hall council chamber, and on-line through May 27, 2026. You can view the full summary of the public meeting here: I-44 between Route 109 and Route 141 May 12 public meeting summary link

Concerns about impacts from other projects, including planned I-64 closures in St. Louis

There will be some overlap with the construction of this work and the planned closure of eastbound I-64 in the city of St. Louis. Although the section of I-44 between I-270 and the city will be a detour route for traffic trying to avoid the eastbound closure, there is significant space available on I-44 to accept any detouring traffic from I-64.  As commuters approach the city, I-44 is about 1 mile away from I-64; I-64 can be accessed from I-44 east of the closure at Jefferson. MoDOT continues to work with the city to monitor and help time several signals on corridors around the eastbound I-64 closure. To ensure the regular maintenance of roughly 6,000 miles of roadway, MoDOT has to maintain about 600 miles of road each year.  Since many projects are two years, that means that roughly one-fifth of the department-maintained roadways have some type of construction impact. This helps ensure that the department is able to keep Missouri roads in good condition and operational for the foreseeable future.

Suggested changes to interchanges

There were several comments about extending the ramps to and from I-44 to Route 109, creating a slip ramp to 5th Street east of the railroad bridge and extending the ramp from Route 141 to westbound I-44.  None of those are currently a part of this plan, nor are there currently any plans to construct any of these changes.  There is a project coming up next year to make some changes that includes upgraded left turns at Route 109 and 5th Street.  MoDOT can continue to look at other improvements between Route 109 and I-44 as other priorities and funding permit.

Changes to the grade or curve on Antire Hill.

Any changes to how the interstate travels through Antire Hill – especially because of various public lands on either side of the I-44 corridor and the overall expense of changing the grade are well outside of the money set aside for this project.  There are no plans to make any future changes to the elevation or curve on Antire Hill. Any changes would require significant additional planning, environmental evaluations and public outreach, and would be extremely costly. As stewards of taxpayer money, the department works with communities around the state to identify the priority projects with the greatest overall impact to the state transportation network. 

Speeding, truck speeds and dictating lanes for trucks

MoDOT is not an enforcement agency, and the Missouri State Highway Patrol partners with, but does not work for, MoDOT.  Any truck speed enforcement issues would fall under the purview of the MSHP or local law enforcement.  There is currently a law that trucks over a certain weight in areas with more than two lanes are required to drive in the right two lanes. Those signs are posted along the corridor, and the department is looking to see if there needs to be additional signage. Any further restrictions on which lanes trucks can travel in would have to be done legislatively.

Concerns that the barriers would continue to break when struck

The barriers, especially along Antire Hill, on this project are more robust and are less likely to be significantly damaged due to being struck by a vehicle – including fully loaded tractor trailers.

Flooding concerns

Although this project will help update and upgrade drainage along the corridor to help with flash flooding or ponding, there is no intent to make the corridor flood proof – especially from when the Meramec River floods.  The cost to make the roadway flood-proof is too significant for the state to reasonably afford, especially when there are higher priority concerns and the  Meramec River floods the interstate very irregularly. None of the work, however, will make any existing flash flooding worse and should reduce the time any lanes are impacted by flash flooding.

Construction impacts

MoDOT is always concerned about giving good value to the taxpayers of Missouri. Construction projects are bid by the project and Missouri Highways and Transportation Commission usually awards the project to the contractor with the lowest qualified bid. Projects like bridge rehabilitation and replacement are usually done best by closing the roadway and detouring traffic. On projects such as the I-44 project between Route 109 and Route 141, the best course is to reduce the number of lanes and run the interstate traffic with traffic in the opposing direction, separated by a barrier. Since the driving surface on the bridge has been completely removed, it is impossible to run traffic on the bridge safely when work is not underway.  During regular traffic periods, it should have little to no impact on traffic (except during crashes), but it will make rush periods tend to last a little bit longer. Drivers can look for alternate routes (as appropriate) depending on where they may be going, or may be able to work with their employers to stagger what times they arrive for work and depart, or where applicable, may be able to telecommute.