Drivers who frequently travel Watson Road/Route 366 through Sunset Hills and Crestwood should prepare for roadwork and construction along the corridor in the next two years when the Missouri Department of Transportation is scheduled to resurface the roadway.

As part of the project, MoDOT will resurface Watson Road between Geyer Road and St. Louis city limits as well as make updates to pedestrian facilities and signals along the roadway beginning in 2024. Existing sidewalks will be updated to meet current Americans with Disabilities Act requirements, and some sections of sidewalks will be connected as well to close gaps, MoDOT engineers said at a town hall on the project Nov. 10. Several traffic signals along the corridor will also be upgraded.

“Two of our top priorities around here … is our ADA-transition plan. … The No.1 priority is to get all that non-compliant sidewalk up to today’s standards,” MoDOT engineer Ryan Pearcy told The Call. “We are trying to update as much of the sidewalk gaps as possible.”

According to the timeline provided by MoDOT, the right-of-way process will begin in winter 2023, which takes about 18 months. The project will then go out to bid in spring 2024, with construction to begin that summer, and wrapping up around fall 2026. As part of the project, the bridge over Gravois Creek between Brookview Drive and Pardee Lane will be replaced. The bridge will be replaced half at a time starting with the outside lanes and is expected to occur in spring 2025.

The department is still determining the impacts of the project, although drivers can expect one lane to be closed in either direction during non-peak traffic hours. Businesses with multiple driveways can expect to have at least one access point at all times through construction, however, residential driveways will have to be closed for several days while they are being worked on. The department will share a general timeframe with residents at least a week to two weeks in advance of when crews will be in the area.

“We’re working with surrounding communities too. Crestwood obviously has a lot of upcoming things with the mall location – over on Grant Road they have another big development, so you know, how do those projects tie into ours,” Pearcy said. “Sunset Hills has the Bass Pro coming, we’re working with them as well … so you know, trying to work with our neighboring partners as we try to update our systems too.”

Aside from last Thursday’s open house, MoDOT will continue to collect feedback from the public about the project through Nov. 28 through an online survey at surveymonkey.com/watson2024. MoDOT will use the results from the survey and feedback from the open house to make any further adjustments to the project before beginning the right-of-way process and going out to bid.

“Take the survey. I want to know what we missed and any concerns … As much as we can add or manipulate or change somethings,” Pearcy said. “Sometimes you stare at it for so long and you realize ‘Oh, I didn’t see that.’”

A direct link to the survey and more information can be found at modot.org/route-366-watson-road-between-geyer-and-st-louis-city-limits.