COOPER COUNTY - A bridge deck replacement on Route BB at the Harlan Branch Bridge in Cooper County is the first Safe & Sound Bridge Improvement project completed in Central Missouri.

The Harlan Branch Bridge is located four miles south of Route 135. The original structure was built in 1962 and was 90 feet long and 20 feet wide. The new bridge deck widens the driving surface to 22 feet.

Work began on April 6 and the bridge was closed to traffic until Thursday, May 7. MoDOT extends its thanks to local motorists for their patience while the work was underway.

The deck replacement cost approximately $230,243.99. The improvements are part of MoDOT's Safe & Sound Bridge Improvement Program, which will improve 800 of Missouri's worst bridges in five years. Ninety bridges will be replaced or repaired in the mid-Missouri area as a part of this program. 

Four additional bridges are currently under construction in Central Missouri, with another bridge scheduled to open later this afternoon. There are 33 bridges currently under construction across the state.

For more information about the planned work or for a complete listing of bridges included in the program, please call 1-888-ASK-MoDOT (275-6636) or log onto www.modot.org/central. You can also follow MoDOT's Central District on Twitter at https://twitter.com/MoDOT_Central.

Editor's Note: Before and after photos of the Harlan Branch Bridge can be found at http://www.modot.org/central/CooperBBHarlanBranch.htm.