Concrete barricades shut down access for vehicle traffic to Eads Bridge on the Missouri side on Friday, Aug. 21, 2020. As part of an effort to reduce drag racing along the bridge and on Washington Avenue, Mayor Lyda Krewson announced during the press conference concrete barriers would be placed to shut down traffic. Photo by Laurie Skrivan, lskrivan@post-dispatch.com
Laurie Skrivan
Concrete barricades shut down access for vehicular traffic to Eads Bridge on the Missouri side on Friday, Aug. 21, 2020. As part of an effort to reduce drag racing along the bridge and on Washington Avenue, Mayor Lyda Krewson announced during the press conference concrete barriers would be placed to shut down traffic. Photo by Laurie Skrivan, lskrivan@post-dispatch.com
ST. LOUIS — ºüÀêÊÓƵ leaders this week closed all lanes of the Eads Bridge and barricaded some downtown streets to control a wave of reckless driving and violence in the area.
Mayor Lyda Krewson said in a video briefing Friday that this summer downtown residents have reported increased racing, trick-driving on motorcycles and ATVs and more gunfire than usual.
The mayor said the mayhem reached a new level last weekend, creating an “untenable situation.â€
Krewson closed the Eads Bridge on Friday morning until further notice as an emergency step. Krewson said racers have been speeding across the city-owned bridge that spans the Mississippi River between Missouri and Illinois near the Gateway Arch.
In addition to the bridge, the city also closed a section of Washington Avenue from Tucker Boulevard to 14th Street with barricades this week. Barriers also narrow traffic in stretches of 4th Street, Broadway and Market Street.
“These are temporary changes,†Krewson said Friday. “This isn’t something that we expect to be there forever.â€
Krewson said downtown streets are built to hold a much larger volume of traffic than the city sees in an average day, and with fewer people working downtown because of COVID-19, the streets are even less crowded.
Krewson said she hopes cutting down on empty streets will prevent the reckless driving from repeating.
The mayor also responded to critiques of the changes.
“Some folks have commented that it’s ugly. It is,†Krewson said, adding: “It’s not aesthetically pleasing, but this is about safety and this is about trying to control the street environment.â€
Krewson said the city would try to find a better solution for the long term.
“All of this is emergency procedures to try to get a handle on this sort of raucous behavior,†Krewson said.
Photos: ºüÀêÊÓƵ tries to combat dangerous driving
City tries to slow street racers
City tries to slow street racers
City tries to slow street racers
City tries to slow street racers
City tries to slow street racers
City tries to slow street racers
City tries to slow street racers
City tries to slow street racers
City tries to slow street racers
City tries to slow street racers
Bullet holes and race cars
Concrete barriers close off vehicular traffic on Eads Bridge
Concrete barriers close off vehicular traffic on Eads Bridge
Prayer vigil is planned for Columbia High School soccer player.
Concrete barricades shut down access for vehicle traffic to Eads Bridge on the Missouri side on Friday, Aug. 21, 2020. As part of an effort to reduce drag racing along the bridge and on Washington Avenue, Mayor Lyda Krewson announced during the press conference concrete barriers would be placed to shut down traffic. Photo by Laurie Skrivan, lskrivan@post-dispatch.com
Concrete barricades shut down access for vehicular traffic to Eads Bridge on the Missouri side on Friday, Aug. 21, 2020. As part of an effort to reduce drag racing along the bridge and on Washington Avenue, Mayor Lyda Krewson announced during the press conference concrete barriers would be placed to shut down traffic. Photo by Laurie Skrivan, lskrivan@post-dispatch.com