ST. LOUIS - Morning and evening rush hour drivers are adjusting to the many changes along the I-64 project this week.  MoDOT, St. Louis County and St. Louis City engineers have been monitoring traffic over the past two days since the opening of Hanley and Oakland over I-64 and the reduction of McCausland to one lane in each direction.  Traffic has also been detoured from Eager Road to Meridian to Hanley Road. 

Overall, morning and evening rush hour travel times are similar to before.  Here are a few of the observations that can help drivers choose the best times and roads for their daily commutes.

Morning rush period information:

• Peak time on northbound Brentwood and Hanley is around 8 a.m.
• Northbound Hanley is backing up for the left turn on Meridian to Eager, but travel times between Manchester and Clayton Road are approximately 6 minutes, which is similar to before.
• Northbound Brentwood traffic is also similar to before with traffic backing up from Litzinger to I-64 and the travel times between Manchester and Clayton Road are approximately 8 minutes.
• Northbound McCausland is slow between Dale and I-64 but the overall travel time between Manchester and Forest Park Parkway is similar to before at approximately 6 minutes.

Evening rush period information:

• Peak time on southbound Brentwood and Hanley is just after 5 p.m.
• Southbound Hanley is backing up at the signal at Dale and also at Manchester.  Travel times between Clayton Road and Manchester are approximately 10 minutes. 
• Southbound Brentwood traffic is similar to before the Hanley opening and travel times are averaging approximately 6 minutes from Clayton to Manchester.
• Motorists on eastbound Eager detouring to Hanley Road must be in the left lane.  The right lane on eastbound Eager must turn right on Hanley Industrial.
• Southbound McCausland peaks just after 4 p.m. and travel times from Forest Park Parkway to Manchester are approximately 6 minutes.

St. Louis City also cautions drivers to reduce their speed on Oakland Avenue between Skinker and Hampton.  Some motorists have been exceeding the posted speed limit traveling as much as 60 mph on this local street.  Many pedestrians cross Oakland to access Forest Park.  City police will be increasing patrols along Oakland.  Many motorists are also making u-turns in the neighborhood.  The Clayton bridge is now closed and drivers must use Oakland to cross I-64.

            To stay up to date on I-64 construction information, please visit the project website at http://www.thenewi64.org/ or for regional traffic updates visit http://www.gatewayguide.com/.