Grand Bridge/Viaduct Not Looking So Good After Only Eight Years
The ribbon for the $20-$30 million Grand bridge/viaduct was cut on August 25, 2012. It looked great that day. Now, eight years later it is not looking so fresh.
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On Monday (9/14/2020) I crossed both sides, end to end.
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![](http://www.urbanreviewstl.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/grandviaduct.20200914c-500x375.jpg)
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Ribbon cuttings are appealing to politicians, especially those running for additional terms. Being able to tout millions of dollars in new investment is great for a resume.
Routine maintenance, on the other hand, isn’t glamorous. The media doesn’t send out a reporter/photographer. So we spend millions building new stuff then fail to maintain it. I think Saint Louis University had originally planted the planters, but they’ve had a change of leadership since.
You may not notice driving across, but this bridge is now an embarrassment. It’s no longer ADA-compliant.
— Steve Patterson