The Missouri Public Service Commission has announced the introduction of a new area code in the 314 area code region in Missouri.
The new area code will be 557. All existing 314 area code customers will retain their current area code in the overlay area, and their telephone numbers will not change.
The 314 area code serves communities such as St. Louis, Overland, Bridgeton, Florissant, Webster Groves, Creve Coeur, Kirkwood and Sappington.
The Missouri Public Service Commission originally adopted an overlay plan for the 314 area code in an order issued Oct. 24, 2000. However, on Sept. 25, 2001, the PSC delayed indefinitely the implementation of the area code overlay relief plan in order to allow time to test the effectiveness of telephone number conservation efforts.
"Telephone number conservation efforts were successful and as a result, implementation of an overlay relief plan for the 314 area code remained on hold for over 20 years," Public Service Commission Chairman Ryan Silvey said.
Federal officials said telephone numbering in the 314 area code is again nearing exhaustion, and it's projected the 314 area code will exhaust in the third quarter of this year.
PSC officials said Aug. 12 is the earliest date telephone numbers with a 557 area code will be activated and used within the 314 area code. The 557 area code will co-exist everywhere in that region with the 314 area code. All local calls within that region must be dialed using 10 digits rather than seven digits. This area, along with many other areas throughout the nation, are required to eliminate seven-digit local dialing by July 15 in order to accommodate the new 988 abbreviated dialing code for the national suicide prevention and mental health crisis hotline.