The planning is underway for the I-64 Opening Ceremony which will occur sometime in December.  It is expected that thousands will be at the celebration.

This reminds us of the Tower Grove and Vandeventer 1915 viaduct ceremony in which 15,000 were in attendance and the ceremonial stage was set up here.

For the history buffs out there: Before the construction of the Tower Grove and Vandeventer viaduct the intersection was known as the most dangerous in the St. Louis area.  At that time, the thouroughfare had 56 passenger/ freight trains, 519 street cars, 3000 automobiles, and over 5000 pedestrians on foot pass by on a daily basis.  In order to construct the viaduct it was necessary to lower the railraod tracks 12 feet and elevate the street 13 feet.  During the construction process 5 temporary bridges were installed and 10,000 carloads of earth were removed.

Headline and photo from St. Louis Republic (1915)