ARNOLD, Mo. —A lawsuit was filed earlier this week to stop a proposed $75 million road project in Arnold from being built.
Arnold Parkway would be a nearly two-mile road network to connect Richardson Road to Highway 141. It is planned to run parallel to I-55 and link the city’s northern and southern shopping districts.
The owners of Water Tower Place Shopping Center are suing, saying the city has worked to “secretly acquire property” and have taken actions to hide the project from businesses, property owners and taxpayers.
The city would need to acquire approximately 41 homes and 10 businesses to continue the northern leg of the road, according to City Administrator Bryan Richison. He said offers have been made to purchase the properties. So far, the city has bought about three homes.
Some of the businesses in Water Tower Place include Sugar Fire, Las Fuentes, Trek Bicycle.
The suit also alleges the city has unlawfully interfered with Water Tower's leasing efforts. The suit states that in June, the City Administrator called the owner of the Local House and encouraged him not to sign a lease to move into the former 54th Street location in the shopping plaza. You can read the entire suit here.
According to the project’s website, the road will not only connect retail between Richardson Rd. and Hwy. 141, but that with traffic volumes on the rise, the Arnold Parkway will provide alternate routes and a bypass to ease congestion and reduce vehicle crashes in the area,
It is also said to improve emergency response times, reduce traffic amid I-55 closures and provide detours during other road closures and natural disasters.
The project would be out for bid next August with demolition tentative for the fall, and construction of the road starting in 2026.
For updates and more information, visit the Arnold Parkway website.