I-70 - Completing MidWest bridge

[jvonbokel]

My reliable source assures me that Effingham and Springfield, IL are on the real "coming soon..." list.

I'd be curious to hear what your source says is the real meaning of "coming soon".

Also, I guess your source can't give you any hints about the three allegedly under construction sites in MO? I'll be in St Charles this weekend, and would be happy to do some poking around, but I'm not really sure where to look.

 

[JKerensky]

I live very near St Charles and my wife's family is in Independance. Clues on where to look, and I can get pics.

 

[emupilot]

I live very near St Charles and my wife's family is in Independance. Clues on where to look, and I can get pics.

Most superchargers in heavily populated areas are at malls or hotels. In St Charles it looks like Regency Square mall would be a good possibility. The Best Western Plus near I-70 at South 5th Street might be worth checking since some other superchargers are at Best Westerns. In Independence, the first place I'd try would be the Independence Center mall at Highway 291 / East 39th Street. That mall is a Simon Mall, who has partnered with Tesla for several superchargers. You could also try the Hilton Garden Inn near there.

 

[bluefuego]

I posted in the other I-70 thread earlier this week.. I drove around St. Charles after Dave posted about the little birdie's chirps. I checked every (ok, there's only 3 or 4) St. Chuck exit (north and south side) in the immediate and most logical places/parking lots. I found nothing. I was planning on checking again this weekend, but if someone is already in the area - keep us posted if you find anything!

Oh, the one place I didn't check is at the Ameristar Casino parking lot/garage. I thought that might be an interesting place for one.. but I skipped it thinking that was unrealistic.

 

[xhawk101]

How about permit searches?

 

[bluefuego]

How about permit searches?

Columbia's permitting search site shows no results matching Tesla. I could not find an online resource to search permits for Independence or St. Charles (I haven't bothered to call either yet). At least with Independence and St. Charles being close to a few owners active on the forums, I am sure that one of us will stumble on it soon enough and post pics.

 

[RiverBrick]

Why is it necessary to embark on wild-goose chases? What prevents the "birdy" from naming sites, or TM from updating the map with "coming soons" and place-holders?


Currently, the all-Supercharger route between Indianapolis and Denver is 430 miles longer than it could be due to the I-90 detour. I hope the report of construction is true and these sites will be open for the Holiday travel season, however, I'm skeptical.

 

[SW2Fiddler]

Columbia's permitting search site shows no results matching Tesla.

Note that on many permit applications, "Black & Veatch" is the contractor listed.
Go forth and SuperStalk!

Rick

 

[bluefuego]

Why is it necessary to embark on wild-goose chases? What prevents the "birdy" from naming sites, or TM from updating the map with "coming soons" and place-holders?

What I have been told by one of the birdies is that there is fear that with the publication of potential sites subversive factors could try to derail their efforts, be it convincing the site owner to back out, intercepting board approvals before proper hearings, etc etc. It was sad to hear that they still need to be afraid of such. But with LizG's post in the other thread about the mayor of Wentzville not being receptive to the idea of a Tesla Supercharger because of the presence of a large auto manufacturer, it just goes to prove this point.

 

[RiverBrick]

What I have been told by one of the birdies is that there is fear that with the publication of potential sites subversive factors could try to derail their efforts, be it convincing the site owner to back out, intercepting board approvals before proper hearings, etc etc. It was sad to hear that they still need to be afraid of such. But with LizG's post in the other thread about the mayor of Wentzville not being receptive to the idea of a Tesla Supercharger because of the presence of a large auto manufacturer, it just goes to prove this point.

Fair enough, but aren't these sites being reported as already under construction? If they've broken ground, isn't there already a signed contract with the owner and regulatory approvals in place? Besides, if there is indeed construction, it's just a matter of time before the information becomes public anyway.

 

[MyJoule]

Well,I just spent hours with evtripplanner.com and have come to the realization that this Christmas won't be a Tesla Road trip Christmas. I had planned to drive from Tucson to Indianapolis, then to Houston and finally back to Tucson. I've been watching the supercharger progress with much anticipation that it would be available. However, after today, I'm scrapping my driving plans at Christmas since the I-70 route won't be done and Texas will still be on an island. if I did drive, I just can't bring my self to risking the northern route being free of Ice and Snow (even the I-70 route could be scary the way the winter has started out.) The extra few hundred miles isn't so bad, it's the super long charges in Missouri, Oklahoma and northern Texas. It would take me 4 days to get from Tucson to Indianapolis, and another 4 days to get to Houston. I'm really bummed, but maybe next Christmas the superchargers will be in place and I'll be able to complete that long road trip.

Southwest Airlines is going to really like me-

 

[bluefuego]

Fair enough, but aren't these sites being reported as already under construction? If they've broken ground, isn't there already a signed contract with the owner and regulatory approvals in place? Besides, if there is indeed construction, it's just a matter of time before the information becomes public anyway.

And this is why I am not fully convinced of these chirps. No one has shown evidence of construction nor have I been able to find any mention of Tesla supercharger construction in either permit searches or in agenda/meeting minutes for the appropriate boards (planning and zoning/alderpersons, etc) in those cities. I don't know where the break down in communications is happening between the team in charge of supercharger network buildout and our birdies. For example, I got a chirp that Independence was under construction when I was driving through back at the beginning of August, but it turned out to be false. I have no idea if a new site had to be selected, if there was a site already secured, etc etc etc.

 

[jerry33]

Well,I just spent hours with evtripplanner.com and have come to the realization that this Christmas won't be a Tesla Road trip Christmas. I had planned to drive from Tucson to Indianapolis, then to Houston and finally back to Tucson. I've been watching the supercharger progress with much anticipation that it would be available. However, after today, I'm scrapping my driving plans at Christmas since the I-70 route won't be done and Texas will still be on an island. if I did drive, I just can't bring my self to risking the northern route being free of Ice and Snow (even the I-70 route could be scary the way the winter has started out.) The extra few hundred miles isn't so bad, it's the super long charges in Missouri, Oklahoma and northern Texas. It would take me 4 days to get from Tucson to Indianapolis, and another 4 days to get to Houston. I'm really bummed, but maybe next Christmas the superchargers will be in place and I'll be able to complete that long road trip.

Having done a few trips north of Texas (some before there were any Superchargers) it's not that bad. With Salina open it's far better, and Denton, TX is coming soon.

 

[rabar10]

FYI - Effingham is now confirmed as a Supercharger site: Supercharger - Effingham, IL