Routine Riverview Blvd. flooding

Nobody who lives here believes that the City or the developers behind "Casino Celebration" understand how serious the traffic issues already are along the Mississippi river at the Chain of Rocks. I shot this video today 11/24/10 at around 4:30pm at Riverview Blvd and Chambers. We did not have any heavy rain today , just some steady light rain since mid morning, but no great downpour. You can see in the video how badly the street floods after just a little rain. If they build a new casino here these road problems will become so much worse for commuters and truck drivers who will have to contend with the greatly increased volume of cars going to a casino.

This section of Riverview is a little over a mile south of the site for the proposed casino.

Flooding is typical all up and down this section of Riverview after it rains when north and south bound traffic are both forced into the center turn lane.

These are photos taken one afternoon earlier this year by the Puder family who live on Riverview Blvd. across from North Riverfront Park. They were taken in the afternoon after an average rainfall. Following is a letter written to the Gaming Commission concerning existing Riverview Boulevard traffic problems.

Dear Missouri Gaming Commission,

I live one mile south from the proposed Casino Celebration site in the
City of St. Louis and I'm bringing to your attention a valid concern I
have in regards to the road conditions for that stretch of Riverview
Drive. As you can see from the photos, signs are posted warning that the
road floods. This sign is on our front lawn and I took the photos from
my front porch and a second floor window. The flooding is not due to the
Mississippi River overflowing but drainage and storm water issues which
have affected this area for literally decades. The road is only two
lanes with a middle lane designated as a turning lane. Even when the
rain fall is lighter, half of each lane is flooded and cars; as well as
semi-trucks; are forced to straddle the middle lane. During the winter
months there are often large ice patches along the road from the snow
being pushed to the side by snow plows and then melting and refreezing
when the temperatures drop. At that time of year the sign changes to
read "ROAD SUBJECT TO ICING".

Unfortunately I do not have stats to provide you in regards to the
number of fatal accidents on this particular stretch of Riverview Drive.
However, at our November 5, 2010 neighborhood meeting (Chain of Rocks
Community Association - CORCA), Deanna Venker and Michelle Vogel, MODOT
engineers, informed our group that MODOT had more discussions about
making our stretch of Riverview a “Travel Safe Zone.” Ms. Vogel
stated that our stretch of Riverview exceeds the State crash rate and a
Travel Safe Zone designation could help the police enforce the speed
limit and no pass laws, using double fines and other techniques. She
also stated that MODOT is trying to bring attention to the area. Ms.
Vogel stated that she would put together an accident summary of the last
five years which would cover the area from the Hall St./Riverview Drive
intersection to Interstate 270. I'm sure she would be able to provide
the stats if you requested them to further investigate the claims I am
making.

Back in 2000 an analyses was conducted by the East-West Gateway and the
recommendation was made that all of Riverview Drive, as well as Hall
Street and East Grand Avenue (which are streets that would service the
proposed casino development), be improved for safety at an estimated
cost of $72.1 million. This is a staggering figure and the
recommendation never came to fruition.

Sincerely,
Norma Puder

Riverview Drive, St Louis, MO 63137