All lanes of Southwest Avenue between McCausland and Bellevue Avenue are expected to remain closed through January of 2016. Portions of Southwest Avenue will be open to local traffic only. Contracted crews with the Metropolitan St. Louis Sewer District (MSD) continue to install two separate sewer lines through the cities of Maplewood, Richmond Heights, and St. Louis. The storm sewer is a new series of pipe ranging from 8-to-90-inches in diameter that will handle rainfall, while the existing line will continue to handle wastewater flow. This installation of a new, larger storm sewer line is part of MSD Project Clear and the ongoing effort to alleviate basement backups and sewer overflows into area waterways due to overcharged sewers.
MSD crews had originally anticipated reopening the closed section of Southwest Avenue by mid-July, but excessive rainfall in late June into July, along with hard rock, and unforeseen utility locations have significantly delayed the progress of the project.
Traffic signs remain in the area guiding drivers to alternate routes. Local traffic will be able to access sections of Southwest Avenue from Bellevue during the closure. MSD has and will continue to provide consistent updates to the residents in the affected area.
System maintenance and rehabilitation of the system have been a part of MSD’s operations for many years; MSD Project Clear continues this work on an accelerated schedule as a part of other system improvements. This project is a part of MSD’s larger initiative to improve water quality and alleviate many wastewater concerns in the St. Louis region.