ST. LOUIS — Construction will begin in May on the north connector of the Brickline Greenway as a groundbreaking celebration took place Monday morning.

The 1.3-mile project will feature newly accessible paths on the west side of Grand Boulevard. It will go from Fairground Park at Natural Bridge, south to Cass Avenue, west to Spring Avenue and south to Page Avenue.

Besides new paths, the project also will have new crosswalks, bus stops, trees, public art and amenities, according to the Brickline Greenway.

“North Grand is not going to look anything like it does today and we are so excited about that,” said Susan Trautman, CEO of Great Rivers Greenway, the organization behind the Brickline Greenway.  

The north connector is part of the Brickline Greenway, a $245 million public-private partnership to connect more than 10 miles of greenway to 14 St. Louis City neighborhoods and destinations.

“This side of town has been left on the sidelines for far too long, but those days are over,” Mayor Tishaura Jones said, followed by applause.

“The Brickline Greenway will allow city residents and visitors alike to travel safely on foot or on bike from the Arch to Forest Park, Fairground to Tower Grove Park and hundreds of destinations in between.”

Jones added that this project will make St. Louis a “safer, richer and more vibrant city.”

Improvement also will be made to the east side of Grand Avenue, made possible by the St. Louis City’s ARPA funds and two extra federal transportation grants.

The north connector is expected to take 18 months to complete. Parking on both sides of North Grand will be kept in between curb bump-outs and safer crosswalks.

Some traffic calming measures include driving lanes being reduced to one narrow lane in each direction with a center lane for turning and emergency vehicles.

These upgrades will help address public safety in the area as there were 733 crashes that resulted in seven deaths, 301 injuries and 17 disabling injuries to people over a four-year study, according to the Brickline Greenway.

St. Louis Alderwoman Laura Keys grew up near North Grand and remembered when the road was thriving with businesses, shops and more.

“We didn’t have a car, so we had to walk everywhere,” she said, adding that the Brickline will make the neighborhood a vibrant strip again.

“And now, I’m going to be able to watch this community have its rebirth and that’s because of you,” Keys said. “I want to thank you all so very much.”

Those contributing to the project are Edward Jones, the Penny Pennington and Michael Fidler Family are contributing to the project, as well as the Berges Family Foundation, Emily Rauh Pulitzer, Ameren and many others.

The Brickline Greenway’s goal to be finished is in 2030. It is currently more than 50% funded thanks to local tax dollars, State of Missouri funds, federal grants and private philanthropy.