July 13, 2011
Vol 13 No 28
December 10, 2014
Recipes
Breakfast and beyond
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A highway to the future Around Town
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Special Section
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Advertizer Profile
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Court dedicated
TOP: Photo courtesy Missouri Department of Transportation ABOVE: Photo courtesy St. Charles County Government TOP: Traffic moves along a stretch of the completed Route 364 near Mid Rivers Mall Drive. ABOVE: Several dignitaries gathered for the ribbon cutting ceremony officially opening Phase 3 of the Route 364 project on Oct. 31
Completion of Route 364 project paves the way for new homes and businesses By Brett Auten With the final patch of concrete dry, lanes painted, and exit signs elevated, the third and final portion of Route 364 has opened with traffic flowing for little over a month. So now what? What can residents and business owners in St. Charles County expect? With the final chapter completed, the opening of the road means drivers can take Route 364 from I-270 at Page Avenue in St. Louis County to I-64 at Route N in St. Charles County. With the opening of Phase 3, which runs from Mid Rivers Drive in St. Peters to Highway N, there are few businesses currently established for the stop-and-go consumer cruising either east or west, but there appears to be bountiful growth on the horizon. While not the most picturesque swath of land in the Show Me State, the soil surrounding Phase 3 is highly functional, fertile and untapped. The biggest patch of businesses is housed off of Highway K, boasting a small collection of grocery stores and restaurants. While cash registers are likely not booming as of yet, peering into a crystal ball, one can see dollar signs in the shape of future customers. “You can see a lot of housing in the works,” Tony Mathews at the Western St.
Charles Chamber said. “You can see the foundations and the infrastructures in place. It’s definite.” If and when those housing and condominium plans turn to a reality - there are two large residential plans in O’Fallon already in the works - that is when more and more new merchants will set up shop. “The corridor is driving interest into the business district,” Eric Sterman, Assistant City Administrator for Lake St. Louis. “New businesses looking to come in are wanting updates on the traffic count. But it’s not just traffic but rooftops. The Page Extension has had a direct impact on home builders in the area. It goes hand in hand.” The opening marks the final key piece of a regional transportation vision that began more than 40 years ago when a grassroots group was formed in St. Charles County to push for what became known as the Page Extension. Phase 1 of the Page Extension was completed in 2003 and included construction of the Veterans Memorial Bridge. Phase 2 from Jungs Station to Mid Rivers Mall Drive was completed in 2012. Phase 3 made the final connection from I-270 in St. Louis County to Interstate 64 at Route N in St. Charles County. It also will serve as an alternate for travel on Interstate 70 and Interstate 64. MoDOT, St. Charles County and local municipalities teamed together to allocate
$118.2 million towards building Route 364/Page Phase 3. The $118.2 million was used for purchasing property, utility relocations, design and construction. The new traffic on Route 364 will give the already established businesses a natural bump in door dings and foot traffic; but the real potential boon will come in the shape of new businesses setting up shop near the 20-mile stretch. “I don’t think the businesses have seen a significant increase so far any way,” Sterman said. “But the forecast of what’s to come really drives interest.”
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