Tucker Boulevard

In case you’re wondering why there have been two lanes of northbound traffic blocked off along Tucker (in front of the Globe Building and the new Washington Ave. Apartments) for months now, here’s why:

The old Illinois Traction Railroad — electric streetcar that connected St. Louis to Springfield, Peoria, Urbana and other Illinois cities via the McKinley Bridge — ended at the Central Terminal (now Globe) Building, with the station in the basement. Florissant Avenue and part of Tucker Boulevard are actually elevated roadways over those tracks. The Illinois Traction line closed in 1953, but the rail line was used for deliveries of paper to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch through 2004. The city inherited maintenance responsibilities in 1953, and has been unable to keep the elevated roadway in good repair. Sections are in such bad shape that Tucker and Florissant are closed between Cass Avenue and Cole Street. The elevated section begins right in front of the Washington Avenue Apartments, where the city has closed outside lanes for safety.

So there you have it! Thanks to Michael Allen at KWMU for the scoop on that mystery.