Officials urge transportation options with yearlong closing of King Bridge

With all lanes of the Martin Luther King Bridge scheduled to close next week for a year due to construction work, officials are urging the public to consider transportation options such as Metro Transit and the Madison County Transit District.

The Martin Luther King Bridge will be closed from Monday, Aug. 27, through the fall of 2019 as part of a yearlong project to repair roads and ramps serving the bridge. Extensive delays are expected on the Poplar Street Bridge and Stan Musial Memorial Bridge, especially during the morning rush hour as the motorists who currently take the Martin Luther King Bridge look for alternative routes. This will also add to the volume and congestion on the Poplar Street Bridge, which has ongoing lane closures due to construction for bridge improvements.

Here is a summary of Metro Transit

Motorists crossing the Mississippi River who want to avoid these Mississippi River bridge construction projects and traffic delays should visit ArriveOnTime.org, a one-stop resource that can help first-time transit riders and others learn about all of the public transportation options available to them. Visitors to the site can find an updated list of major road and bridge construction projects, and links to trip-planning resources, Metro Transit information and other transportation services, including RideFinders, Madison County Transit and St. Clair County Transit. First-time riders can also learn more about Citizens for Modern Transit’s Try & Ride Program, which invites newriders to try public transit for free for one month.

To plan your trip on Metro Transit and avoid sitting in bridge traffic during construction work, visit ArriveOnTime.org or connect with a Metro Transit Information team member who will help you create a personalized trip plan. Contact Metro Transit Information by calling (314) 231-2345 or (618) 271-2345 or texting (314) 207-9786, Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Here is a summary of Madison County Transit

MCT Express Bus Service offers frequent, affordable, limited-stop, peak-only, commuter bus service to and from convenient locations in Madison County to 15 stops in Downtown St. Louis.

• #1X Riverbend Express: Serving Godfrey, Alton, East Alton, Wood River, and Granite City
• #5 Tri-City Regional: Serving Granite City, Madison, and Venice
• #14X Highland Express: Serving Highland, St. Jacob, and Troy
• #16X Edwardsville Express: Serving Edwardsville, Glen Carbon, Maryville, and Collinsville

RideFinders

MCT also operates RideFinders, the carpool, vanpool program for the 9-county St. Louis region. RideFinders is a free public service that works with more than 900 St. Louis area employers to promote and form carpools for the purpose of reducing traffic congestion and improving air quality. RideFinders offers employers:

• A free online ride-matching service
• Up to four free Guaranteed Rides Home each year in the event of emergency
• Designated parking signs for carpoolers and vanpoolers
• Lunch & Learns or tabling at employer events or fairs

“Fewer lanes across the Mississippi River will cause traffic congestion and delays for commuters, unless we as a region make an effort to reduce the number of cars on the road,” said MCT Managing Director Jerry Kane. “Instead of tackling the traffic and driving alone, now is the time to take back your commute by trying transit or carpooling.” 

To learn more about these and MCT’s other transportation services, commuters or employers can visit www.SharetheRideSTL.org. For MCT Express bus information, call (618) 797-4636 and for information about the RideFinders carpool and vanpool program, all (618) 797-4600. Questions can also be directed to: info@mct.org.