Historical April–May 2004 article. Dates, prices, services and contacts describe the source period; current availability has not been established.
The coming of a new MetroLink line did not hold any particular terror for me. But, I did worry about the construction.
I lived through the original line preparations from my former perch on Nina Place.
I remember vividly the noise, the dirt, the peculiar smells.
My allergies were never so bad. Needless to say, the new construction has been if anything worse.
The poor residents by the Waterman bridge have suffered from day and night work with all the incumbent problems. Now, another unpleasant externality has arisen. Metro’s contractors are excavating what will be the tunnel under Skinker.
They are disgorging tons of dirt. Where is it going? For some reason, truck after truck is removing the dirt via DesPeres.
The trucks have been going north on DesPeres to Waterman up to Skinker.
However, Metro now informs us that it is not permissible to use Waterman for trucks, so they intend to haul the dirt from the tunnel dig up DesPeres to Delmar.
This will be occuring from April to October of this year. Since I am now blessed to live very close to the Parkway–Des Peres intersection, I have been awakened four days in a row (including Saturday) by the rumbling of these trucks. Many have uncovered beds.
This creates additional problems for nearby residents. SDCC President Joe Keaveny told me that Metro is violating its agreement with the neighborhood by shipping all this dirt through our streets by our houses, churches, and St. Roch School. But, the trucks continue, seemingly more each day. Contact has been made with Metro and information about upcoming traffic concerns will be available very soon.
If you are disturbed by this endless procession, give Metro a call.
Originally published in The Times of Skinker-DeBaliviere, April–May 2004.
Read this article in the original newspaper issue.
Original source: SD_Times2004_04.pdf, printed page(s) 2; PDF page(s) 2.
