St. Louis County will have one of the region's most state-of-the-art libraries in a few weeks, when the two-story, 37,696-square-foot Grant's View Branch opens to the public.
The facility, which replaces the Tesson Ferry Branch, will have a vast collection of materials and an ambiance patrons have likely never experienced. Yet, despite the excitement, some critics think that planners may have put the cart before the horse.
Specifically, road work necessary for the smooth transition to the new building at Gravois Road and Musick Avenue has lagged well behind construction of the library itself.
"I visited the new branch last Friday, and it is incredible," said St. Louis County Library Communications Director Jennifer McBride. "It has a very open feel with the two-story glass atrium. From inside you can look directly into the park (Grant's Farm) and see the animals. It has stadium-style seating, a café and a lot of amenities for children."
The Grant's View Branch will also include a community garden, interactive displays, new computers and ample quiet study space.
McBride said the only thing preventing the new facility from opening today are the completion of the collection of materials and the installation of signage.
Some in the community, however, are predicting safety and congestion issues on Gravois and Musick when the library is fully operational. McBride said she has seen those concerns mentioned on social media.
"The county does need to widen the road, and that definitely should happen," McBride said.
Margie Kohl, a Grantwood Village resident who will be driving past the new library every day, said she is excited to see the library going up, but she has reservations.
"It would seem like all of us have some vested interest in this project being done in the safest way possible, with funds being spent for projects in the proper order," she said. "Thankfully, Grants Farm is not open at this time of year or it would really be a nightmare."
Kohl has been in contact with Grantwood Village trustees who sympathize, but have little say in the development of the library site. She then took her concerns to St. Louis County Councilman Pat Dolan, who wasn't able to give her any better news.
"There are a lot of factors that go into these projects, including funding from different government agencies, easement purchases and substantial utility relocations that must take place before road construction can begin," said Dolan's spokesman Patrick Mulcahy.
According to the Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT), the work on Gravois and Musick includes cutting down the hillcrest, realigning the intersection and adding a left-turn lane on Gravois for turns from westbound Gravois onto southbound Musick. The intersection will have a new signal with improved Americans with Disabilities accommodations.
MoDOT says design work (by ABNA Engineering) will be completed in December, but property acquisition and utility relocation will take at least a full year to complete. The Grant's View Branch will eventually have a Musick Avenue entrance, but that won't happen until the hillcrest is lowered. That means access will continue through a Grantwood Village subdivision street.
"We also have a bridge replacement project on Musick about a mile south of this intersection that is also in the design phase. We are aware of the coordination needs for these two projects, so that road closures will not occur simultaneously," according to MoDOT.