70, 55, and 64 are multiplexed on the Poplar Street Bridge. There's been a huge focus on upgrading 70 across the Midwest, which includes eliminating congested segments like the one through St. Louis.
Rerouting 70 with a new bridge north of downtown avoids the need for expansion of the expressway trench that cuts downtown St. Louis off from its riverfront. Currently this trench is only 4 lanes wide, which is probably the narrowest urban segment along 70's entire length. Expansion of the trench would be super-costly and it would work against the revival of downtown St. Louis. Maybe in the future, they can even remove that expressway altogether, or use the trench alignment for rail or something.
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la forme d'une ville change plus vite, hélas! que le coeur d'un mortel...
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