St. Louis County outlines timeline, easement process and preliminary cost for Webster Groves streetscape

St. Louis County engineers gave Webster Groves commissioners a detailed update on the AR 1851 streetscape project, saying final plans must be approved by June 30, 2026, and construction is most likely to occur in spring 2027.

The county’s presentation described remaining design work, a right-of-way and easement process that will begin with offer letters this fall, and options for adding decorative lighting and other streetscape features not included in the county’s base scope. County staff said a lighting design change order would cost about $30,000.

County staff member Brian, presenting design materials and history, told the commission the corridor design dates to initial concepts shown to the city in 2020–21 and that the project received federal surface/TAP funding after an application in February 2022. “We started design September 2023,” Brian said, and the project has advanced through preliminary design while the county and the city negotiated scope and maintenance expectations. He said, “we have to have final plans done and basically approved by next 06/30/2026.”

Why it matters: the project narrows a four-lane stretch west of the railroad tracks, adds pedestrian refuges and upgraded crosswalk markings, widens most sidewalks to six feet where feasible, and installs curb ramp details required by ADA rules. Brian said the plans will keep permanent parking on the south side of the street and that bike lanes are not feasible in much of the corridor because of constrained right-of-way…