Last of people living in St. Louis railroad tunnel leave

ST. LOUIS -- The last of the people living in an abandoned railroad tunnel beneath the streets of St. Louis have cleared out.

The city had set an 8 a.m. Friday deadline for people to get out of the tunnel. That's because St. Louis is using $34 million in federal stimulus money to rebuild Tucker Boulevard, which sits above the tunnel. As part of the project, the tunnel will be filled in.

As recently as a month ago, an estimated 150 homeless people were living in the tunnel, an area dubbed "Hopeville" by homeless advocate Larry Rice. By last week, only a handful remained, and by Friday morning, all were gone.

Many have since moved to a new tent city encampment near the Mississippi River. The city is helping others find housing.