Politics & Government

Salt River Road Project Phase One Complete, Roads Now Open

The new four-lane Salt River Road in St. Peters is open between Highway 370 and Mid Rivers Mall Drive, while Spencer Road will reopen north of Premier Parkway.

Beneath the new bridge over Spencer Road, a crowd gathered on Thursday afternoon.

The crowd wasn't trying to beat the heat, although the shade of the bridge and a nice breeze did make is significantly cooler under than bridge than outside in the 90-plus degree heat, but rather celebrating the opening of the first phase of the Salt River Road Project. Thursday afternoon St. Peters Mayor Len Pagano, St. Charles County Executive Steve Ehlmann and others were on hand for the opening of Spencer Road/Salt River Road.

A 2.5-mile section of the Salt River Road Extension is now open at the newly constructed Salt River Road and Spencer Road interchange west of Highway 370. Drivers can now exit and enter Highway 370 on Spencer Road and can take Salt River Road to Mid Rivers Mall Drive. The project also reopens Spencer Road north of Premier Parkway.

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Transportation and Development Services Group Manager Russ Batzel opened the ceremony by thanking everyone who made the project possible—everyone from Mayor Pagano to the contractors to the construction workers.

Batzel then passed the microphone to Pagano. The St. Peters Mayor said the new roadway should help traffic flow and be an economic boost for the city and St. Charles County.

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Pagano also praised the foresight of the project. The city added additional exit lanes and bike lanes, things that may have been needed to be added later. 

"We think of tomorrow, not today," Pagano said.

The ceremony closed with remarks from Ehlmann. He said the new roadway, which four years ago was just an idea and is now a reality, should help traffic. 

"This will help get people home earlier to spend more time with their famalies," he said. 

Ehlmann closed by saying the County has no problem contributing to projects in St. Peters. He said that if you give St. Peters money, they'll spend it on roads and concrete.

The next phase of the project, extending Salt River Road to Highway 79, is underway. The Missouri Department of Transportation is handling that portion. 


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