NextStop Blog

The Stan Musial Veterans Memorial Bridge will be open to the public to preview between noon and 4 p.m. this Saturday, February 8 so you can walk, run or bike on the new bridge before it opens to vehicle traffic on Sunday. Access to the bridge that time will be free of charge.

Parking near the bridge is very limited, so at the request of the Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT), Metro transit will operate a special bus shuttles to take people from selected locations in the downtown St. Louis area to the new bridge and back. The shuttles will run every 5 minutes from 11:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. You are encouraged to take Metro transit to arrive downtown. To use the free bridge shuttles, park at any of the free Metro Park-Ride lots along the MetroLink system in Missouri and Illinois, and take the train to the Convention Center MetroLink Station. You can also take MetroBus to the Civic Center MetroLink Station (Plan your trip here.) and board an eastbound train to the Convention Center MetroLink Station. You must have a valid fare to ride MetroBus and MetroLink. From the Convention Center Station, you may catch one of the free special bridge shuttles at:

• 6th Street north of Washington (west side of street)

• Washington and 7th Street at the Metro Store (north side of street)

• 9th Street between Washington Avenue and Convention Plaza (east side of street)

• 9th Street and Cole Street (east side of street)

• 11th Street and Cole Street (north side of street)

If you are planning to drive downtown to catch one of the free shuttles to the bridge, there are parking garages near all five of these pick up locations. (See map below.) Parking rates vary by facility.

In Illinois, the general public will be parking in the old Stockyard area. To get there:

From westbound I-64:

• Take exit 4A (Baugh Avenue)

• Continue on Baugh Avenue (approximately 0.6 mile) to 9th Street (2nd roundabout)

• Go right onto 9th Street

• Continue on 9th Street to Exchange Avenue (all-way stop)

• Turn left onto Exchange Avenue

• Continue on Exchange Avenue approximately 0.8 miles

• Note the sign directing you to public parking

From westbound I-55/70:

• Take exit 3C (Exchange Avenue)

• Turn right onto Exchange Avenue at the stop sign

• Continue on Exchange Avenue approximately 0.6 mile

• Note the sign directing you to public parking

MoDOT would like for you to keep some things in mind on Saturday:

• The general public will not be allowed on the bridge until noon, because of the morning’s races and event set up.

• Please do not bring pets, large or hard-sided coolers, alcohol or glass bottles.

• Please do not bring skateboards, inline skates, skate shoes, scooters or other wheeled vehicles.

• For bicycle riders, the bridge may be very crowded, so please give pedestrians and other cyclists plenty of space.

The new I-70 bridge over the river is set to open to vehicle traffic on Sunday, February 9.