Oakland Avenue will sport a new look by the end of the summer, with a landscaped median, sculptures, new signs, street resurfacing and safer access to the Science Center and Saint Louis University High School.
The Oakland Avenue Streetscape Improvement Project will start Tuesday, May 27, with most of the work expected to be completed by Labor Day. The project area stretches from Lawn Place in the 4900 block of Oakland to the Science Center’s Exploradome service drive in the 5100 block.
In the first two weeks of work, one lane of traffic will be open in each direction on Oakland. Beginning in mid-June, one lane of westbound traffic and up to two lanes of eastbound traffic will be open. The Science Center, SLUH and the STL-TV studios will have access to Oakland throughout the 14 weeks of work.
The $950,000 project is 75 percent funded by federal transportation funds, with the remaining 25 percent of costs to be shared by the Science Center and SLUH. R.V. Wager is the general contractor, with HNTB providing architectural and engineering services. Input for the streetscape project was sought from members of Forest Park South, the Forest Park Advisory Board and residents attending a public meeting.