“The busy intersection in the heart of the Delmar Loop is a significant north‐south and east‐west route,” said a news release from the trolley leaders. “After exploring options to provide access for both pass-through traffic and destination trips to the Delmar Loop, officials agreed that a full closure would have the least impact.”

Traffic to the Delmar Loop will be detoured on Forest Park Parkway (the east-west detour to Delmar), and to Big Bend Boulevard and DeBaliviere Avenue (the north-south alternatives to Skinker between Delmar and Forest Park Parkway), beginning Monday.

Those routes were chosen because they have similar capacity to Skinker and Delmar, and do not pass through predominantly residential areas, the trolley group said.

Contractors are set to work around the clock. The intersection will have temporary crossings for pedestrians and those with disabilities.

Traffic signals will be retimed to handle the extra traffic. The detour routes will be monitored and traffic lights adjusted as needed throughout the closure period.

More than 85 percent of the track for the new trolley is installed. The most recent cost estimate for the 2.2-mile trolley line under construction between University City and Forest Park is $51 million.

St. Louis Post Dispatch ©April 2016