Over several years, Trailnet vigorously organized opposition to the South County Connector project for environmental, economic, and historic preservation reasons. This proposed $120 million project, was intended to link I-55 with I-44 and I-64, has now been “permanently shelved” by St. Louis County.
We worked with many others in this battle, including elected officials like county councilman Pat Dolan and St. Louis alderman Scott Ogilvie. Multiple city leaders in Maplewood, Webster Groves, and Shrewsbury discouraged this project after learning this road could displace up to eight families and 21 businesses within these areas. Institutions like the Washington University School of Law and non-profits such as Missouri Coalition for the Environment, Sierra Club and the River DesPeres Watershed Coalition also spoke out against this project for the lack of plans made for cyclists and pedestrians as well as for its price tag.
Although the County declared this project to be “on hold” in November 2014, we realized there was a chance it could resurface. Now, almost two years later, we can declare victory now that St. Louis County has “permanently shelved” the South County Connector project.