Updated at 3:30 p.m. MoDOT has opened the westbound lanes of 364 between Harvester and Mid Rivers Mall Dr.
Updated at 2:35 p.m. The eastbound lanes of 364 between Harvester and Mid Rivers Mall Dr. are now open. A piece of equipment used to paint stripes is malfunctioning, which will delay the opening of the westbound lanes until after rush hour tonight.
Our earlier story:
Drivers in the St. Louis region can now take Route 364 all the way to Mid Rivers Mall Dr.
The Missouri Department of Transportation on Thursday cut the ribbon on the second phase of the Page Ave. extension, two months ahead of schedule and $1 million under budget.
Today's opening provides another freeway connection between St. Louis and St. Charles counties, MoDOT district engineer Ed Hassinger said. And the Page extension combined with the expansion of Highway 141 has major regional benefits.
"It makes our system so much more robust, and allows for people to move across the region is a more efficient way," he said, adding that it will also help when the department closes lanes on the Blanchette Bridge later this fall.
Dry weather allowed for the accelerated schedule on the $101 million Page project.
"We had a great summer," Hassinger said. "The drought may not be good for a lot of things, but no rain is great for construction. And so [the contractors] just really, really hit it, and did great work."
The $1 million the department saved will go to projects that are next on a regional priority list, Hassinger said. Contracts for the third Page extension, a $100 million project that will stretch from Mid Rivers Mall Dr. to Interstate 64, will be put out for bid later this year.
"We're shooting to go all the way," Hassinger said. "It'll be just how big is it, and how many amenities are there and things like that."
Follow Rachel Lippmann on Twitter: @rlippmann
