40 Meet at Deer Creek Center, Hear Why South County Connector is Bad Idea

Area elected officials from Maplewood and St. Louis county and city assembled at the Deer Creek Center parking lot Tuesday morning to tell why they oppose the South County Connector. 

Trailnet organized the meeting.

The South County Connector is a four-lane divided road that would run through Maplewood and Shrewsbury, connecting Hanley Road and the River Des Peres Boulevard.

Maplewood Ward 3 Councilman Barry Greenberg, Chamber of Commerce Director Jeannine Beck and District 5 St. Louis County Councilman Pat Dolan and others spoke to about 40 folks, some who came to the press conference on bikes.

A draft environmental impact study (EIS) has been prepared and is in a public comment phase.

The deadline comments on the EIS is July 19. After that, the Saint Louis County Department of Highways & Traffic will determine whether or not to approve the project.

There is no deadline for the county highways department to announce its decision. If approved, the project would need the OK from the Federal Highway Administration, MoDOT and the EPA.

After the meeting, Trailnet drove members of the media to points on the proposed road to comment on the design.