The closure of Grant Road was a hot topic at the Crestwood Board of Aldermen’s Feb. 25 meeting. 

For background, Grant Road was closed in early January following the first major snowstorm of the year. The closure was initiated and maintained by Grantwood Village, who, according to Crestwood Mayor Scott Shipley, initially indicated that the road closure was due to uncleared snow and ice buildup. It was later stated by Grantwood Village that the road closure was due to the need for crack filling and road striping as the southbound lane was unsafe until that work could be completed.

“A routine maintenance like striping is typically done without a full road closure, and Grant Road is a straight, easy drive in acceptable condition,” Shipley said.

Over the almost two months the road was closed, Grantwood Village placed “road closed” signs and barricades on the southbound lane of Grant Road at the Crestwood border, preventing traffic from traveling toward Gravois Road and the Ulysses S. Grant National Historic Site. Northbound traffic was not restricted.  

“Grant Road is a designated collector road that provides a well-used connection between Watson and Gravois. Its closure forced traffic onto narrow, winding residential streets such as Pardee Road, creating increased congestion and impacting Crestwood residents as well as those in Affton, Webster Groves and surrounding areas,” Shipley said. “Additionally, the closure created concerns for emergency response times.” 

Due to the above concerns, a resolution “expressing the denunciation and disapproval regarding the closure of Grant Road and recommending its immediate reopening” was placed on the board’s Feb. 25 agenda. Before Crestwood’s meeting occurred, however, Shipley spoke with the Grantwood Village Board of Trustees who agreed to reopen the road on Feb. 25.

“I’m proud of the partnership and cooperation with our neighboring municipalities that Crestwood participates in,” Shipley said. “Our staff works cooperatively with their counterparts all over our region, and we have generally professional and productive relationships with other governmental organizations around the region. For that reason, I was disappointed about the need for the resolution this evening on our consent agenda about one of our neighboring municipalities and their actions taken to close Grant Road. (I’m) hopeful that this issue is behind us, but I also plan to stay involved.” 

Because Grant Road was reopened, the resolution was no longer relevant, prompting Shipley to request that it be removed from the consent agenda. Ward 3 Alderman Greg Hall removed the resolution from the consent agenda, postponing it until “such time that it may be necessary to bring back.”

Hall’s motion passed unanimously. 

“It’s unfortunate that this came about. I appreciate the mayor’s involvement,” Ward 3 Alderman Grant Mabie said. “Hopefully we will not see this resolution on our agendas and there will be a new era of cooperation, peace and prosperity between the cities.”