HANNIBAL - The Missouri Highways and Transportation Commission recently awarded a contract for rehabilitating two bridges in Knox and Scotland Counties, the North Fork South Fabius River Bridge near Greensburg on Route C and the South Wyaconda River Bridge near Arbela on Route H.  These are the first bridges in those respective counties that will be repaired under MoDOT's innovative Safe and Sound Bridge Program.

            The deck on each of the bridges will be replaced allowing the one-lane restriction to removed from the bridge on Route C. Neither bridge will be load posted when the work is complete and both bridges will be widened, the Route C bridge to 22 feet accommodating the 10-foot driving lanes and one-foot shoulders, the Route H bridge to 24 feet, accommodating the 10-foot lanes and two-foot shoulders. "The road will be closed while the bridge is rehabilitated, and it will more than likely take place in the spring before school is out for the summer," explained MoDOT Construction and Materials Engineer Macy Rodenbaugh.  The Safe and Sound Bridge program will repair or replace 802 bridges throughout the state, beginning in 2009.

            Boone Construction Co. of Columbia, Mo., was the successful bidder on this project at $557,026.50.  Work may begin after January 5, 2009, but the road will not be closed before March 16 and is expected to be complete by summer.

            Questions about this transportation improvement or others on state highways can be directed to MoDOT's customer service center at 1-888 ASK MODOT or visit our website at www.modot.org/northeast.