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Community Corner

South End of Leonor K. Sullivan to Close Starting Nov. 20 as Great Rivers Greenway Begins Work on Central Riverfront Portion of CityArchRiver 2015 Project

On Wednesday, Nov. 20, Great Rivers Greenway will begin construction on  the first phase of the Central Riverfront project. 

Construction will officially start just six days after Great Rivers Greenway, CityArchRiver 2015 and the City of St. Louis held a ceremonial ground breaking. Due to the nature of construction, the south end of Leonor K. Sullivan will be closed between Chouteau Ave. and the Gateway Arch’s Grand Staircase until the first phase of the project is complete next fall. During construction, residents will still be able to access the existing riverfront tourist amenities, including the riverboats, helicopter rides and bike rentals, from the north end of Leonor K. Sullivan Blvd. via Laclede’s Landing Boulevard.

The Central Riverfront is the second component of the CityArchRiver 2015 project to get underway and aims to improve the safety and accessibility of the Riverfront and Gateway Arch grounds for visitors and residents.  Great Rivers Greenway, which is overseeing work on the project, will transform Leonor K. Sullivan Blvd. into an enhanced 1.5-mile-long corridor that will provide for every practical mode of transportation to be accommodated, including pedestrians of all abilities, bicyclists, cars, and buses. The street will be elevated to reduce flooding, streetscape improvements will be made, and a pedestrian walkway and separated bike lane will be added as part of the project.

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The Central Riverfront Trail, which will be created as part of the project, will serve as a key connector in Great Rivers Greenway’s planned region-wide system of high-quality greenways, parks and trails known as The River Ring. The trail will eventually provide direct access to the Gateway Arch to residents in the Metro East and St. Louis County.

The Central Riverfront project is being completed in two phases. Once phase I is complete next fall, work on Phase II, from the Grand Staircase to Biddle St., will begin. The Central Riverfront project will be completed in time for the Gateway Arch’s 50th anniversary celebration in fall 2015.

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For more information about the Central Riverfront project, visit www.greatriversgreenway.org. For more information on CityArchRiver 2015, visit www.cityarchriver.org.
                                   

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