Road Trips Let us know where you've been on your Harley, the best places to visit on a bike, etc.

bypass St Louis

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old May 24, 2011 | 08:02 AM
  #1  
BIACKBENZ's Avatar
BIACKBENZ
Thread Starter
|
Tourer
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 285
Likes: 4
From: Mequon, WI
Question bypass St Louis

On my attempt to make the iron butt, I will be leaving Milwaukee about noon on Tuesday and plan to be West of Oklahoma City by Wednseday. This puts me in Saint Louis about 6:00 PM. I plan to use I 55 to I 70 to I 270 to I 44. Am I going to run into traffic or construction on any of these routes at this time?
 
Reply
Old May 24, 2011 | 12:33 PM
  #2  
BezerkoBob's Avatar
BezerkoBob
Road Master
15 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 830
Likes: 34
From: Missouri
Default

If you cross the river in downtown St. Louis (Poplar Street Bridge), you won't need I-270. You can get to I-44 West from I-55 South. If you bypass St. Louis and cross the river north of the city (Chain of Rocks bridge), then you will take the route you mentioned. At 6PM the traffic congestion will be in the opposite direction when you hit the city. I-44 can get pretty busy until you get past about Eureka. But it doesn't have any stop 'n go unless there is an accident.

Or you could take I-55 South to I-255 South and cross the river south (Jefferson Barracks Bridge) of the city. I-255 changes to I-270 which will then take you to I-44 West.

Good luck!
 
Reply
Old May 24, 2011 | 12:35 PM
  #3  
BezerkoBob's Avatar
BezerkoBob
Road Master
15 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 830
Likes: 34
From: Missouri
Default

I just re-read your post and realized you are probably on your way.

Hope it goes well for you. Beware of the storms coming up I-44.
 
Reply
Old May 24, 2011 | 01:00 PM
  #4  
Sharknose's Avatar
Sharknose
Elite HDF Member
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 3,927
Likes: 5
From: Midwest
Default

Originally Posted by BIACKBENZ
On my attempt to make the iron butt, I will be leaving Milwaukee about noon on Tuesday and plan to be West of Oklahoma City by Wednseday. This puts me in Saint Louis about 6:00 PM. I plan to use I 55 to I 70 to I 270 to I 44. Am I going to run into traffic or construction on any of these routes at this time?
Will there be traffic on the most heavily traveled corridors at 6PM on a weekday? That's a good one.
 
Reply
Old May 24, 2011 | 10:30 PM
  #5  
BIACKBENZ's Avatar
BIACKBENZ
Thread Starter
|
Tourer
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 285
Likes: 4
From: Mequon, WI
Default

Thanks Bezerko,

I'm leaving monday morning. I think you suggestion of I 55 to I 255 might be the best. I would guess any holiday traffic would be east bound from the west side of the city and not be in my way. Correct?
 
Reply
Old May 25, 2011 | 09:17 PM
  #6  
Wadcutter's Avatar
Wadcutter
Tourer
15 Year Member
Liked
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 273
Likes: 23
Default

I'd do I-55 to I-255 to I-270N to I-44. A lot less traffic than you'll find on I-270 around the north side.
You're going to hit construction and lane restrictions on I-55 about milepost 30. I was thru there today and traffic was backed a little bit but moving slowly. However, I was thru there last week and sat dead still in traffic in a 5 mile backup. Took about 35 minutes to get thru the construction zone once traffic was moving.
You'll hit another construction zone on I-255 in the area of I-64 (E St Louis to Cahokia area). They have some lane shifts. Traffic has been moving OK thru there but it's slow most of the time.
Speed limit is reduced to 55 MPH and 45 MPH in places in construction zones. Don't try speeding thru those reduced areas. They're usually heavily patrolled. Fines are steep. The photo camera van has been posted in both zones. Also several squads.
Have a safe trip.
 

Last edited by Wadcutter; May 25, 2011 at 09:19 PM.
Reply
Old May 26, 2011 | 07:17 AM
  #7  
Sharknose's Avatar
Sharknose
Elite HDF Member
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 3,927
Likes: 5
From: Midwest
Default

Originally Posted by Wadcutter
You're going to hit construction and lane restrictions on I-55 about milepost 30. I was thru there today and traffic was backed a little bit but moving slowly. However, I was thru there last week and sat dead still in traffic in a 5 mile backup. Took about 35 minutes to get thru the construction zone once traffic was moving.
You'll hit another construction zone on I-255 in the area of I-64 (E St Louis to Cahokia area). They have some lane shifts. Traffic has been moving OK thru there but it's slow most of the time.
And that's the FAST way.

You might find this site useful: http://www.gatewayguide.com/
 
Reply
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
Spartawide
Road Trips
7
Nov 4, 2010 12:25 PM
Spartawide
General Harley Davidson Chat
9
Nov 2, 2010 01:06 PM
backsider
Road Trips
2
Jun 9, 2009 12:53 PM
Buddha64
Road Trips
8
May 30, 2008 11:20 PM
acemang
Road Trips
4
Jan 15, 2007 09:33 AM




All times are GMT -5. The time now is 12:17 PM.

story-0
7 Times Harley-Davidson Chucked Tradition Out the Window

Slideshow: Harley-Davidson built its reputation on nostalgia, but every so often, the company took a hard left turn into the future.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-20 11:18:19


VIEW MORE
story-1
7 Surprising Harley-Davidson Products that Are Not Motorcycles

Slideshow: The bar-and-shield logo shows up on far more than motorcycles, some of the company's most unexpected products have nothing to do with riding.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-29 16:50:35


VIEW MORE
story-2
8 Best Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

Slideshow: Not every Harley gets it right, but these are the ones that genuinely earned their reputation.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-04-15 14:23:21


VIEW MORE
story-3
10 Worst Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

Slideshow: From the troubled AMF years to modern misfires, these bikes earned reputations for reliability issues, questionable engineering, or disappointing performance.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-04-01 20:01:09


VIEW MORE
story-4
Killer Custom's Jail Break Is The Breakout That Refused to Blend In

Slideshow: Killer Custom's "Jail Breaker" build focuses more on stance and visual aggression than mechanical overhaul.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-18 19:20:32


VIEW MORE
story-5
Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?

Slideshow: The Swiss custom shop has taken a Harley Softail and stretched it into something so long and low that it looks closer to a rolling sculpture than a conventional motorcycle.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-07 16:15:30


VIEW MORE
story-6
Harley-Davidson Reveals Super Cool Cafe Racer Concept

Slideshow: Harley-Davidson's new RMCR concept revives the café racer formula with modern hardware-and it may be exactly the reset the company needs.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-04 12:23:37


VIEW MORE
story-7
Engraved Rebellion: Inside Bundnerbike's Glam Rock II

Slideshow: A standard cruiser becomes an intricate metal canvas in the hands of a Swiss custom house known for pushing Harley-Davidson platforms far beyond their factory brief.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-02-24 18:19:44


VIEW MORE
story-8
10 Motorcycles You Should Never Buy

Slideshow: There is no shortage of great motorcycles to buy, but we would avoid these ten.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-02-19 14:50:51


VIEW MORE
story-9
10 Things Harley-Davidson Needs to Fix in 2026

Slideshow: Harley-Davidson's challenges aren't abstract; they show up in dropping shipments, shrinking dealer traffic, and strategic decisions that aren't yet translating into growth.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-01-13 18:33:17


VIEW MORE