Gravois Road Changes: Being Thrown a Left Isn't All Bad

Two years ago, MoDOT replaced the aging Gravois bridge over Gravois Creek. After three months of a rather scenic yet not quite enjoyable detour around Grant's Farm, the bridge was replaced with a safer and bigger bridge. A new left turn lane allowed those turning onto Grant Road to have their own lane, which freed up both east bound lanes for traffic continuing east. Same thing occurred for drivers turning onto McNary for the Affton Athletic Association. All seemed perfect until a median was placed along the center line of Gravois, preventing cars from exiting Grantwood Lane from turning left onto Gravois.

Many thought the inclusion of the new McNary Road turn lane and the median was in response or in preparation for the ill fated Villages at Gravois Creek development on the south side of Gravois. That made sense as the most populated area of the proposed development was planned for that area, but it also had people wondering if the development was not happening, why keep that median. As it turns out, the addition of the new turn lane so close to an existing intersection (Grantwood and Gravois) prompted the median, not the development. With traffic regulations requiring its installation, it wasn't going anywhere.

Earlier this spring, I called MoDOT. It wasn't just the median causing issues. The way the new section was striped around the median left a partial but unofficial left turn lane at Gravois and Grantview.  Many times, especially at rush hour, cars turning onto Grantview Lane would back up and intrude into the inside east bound lane.  So not only did we lose an exit, we also gained a safety hazard. They looked into the feasibility of creating an honest-to-goodness left turn lane just east of the median, and a month later, they said they could do it. Once the weather cooperated, they marked it one day and configured it the next.  Two to three cars can now occupy the turn lane without interfering with other traffic. It really is an improvement, safety and otherwise, for all drivers on Gravois, not just Grantwood residents. We still lost an exit, but thanks to MoDOT's cooperation and our Residents' patients, we have a much improved situation for all motorists. And we even got the MoDOT crew to pose for a picture!