HANNIBAL - The public is invited to stop by the Hawk Point Civic Center just off of Highway 47 in Hawk Point on Thursday, February 9 between 4:30 p.m. and 6 p.m. to learn more about the upcoming bridge work in the area.  The bridges in Lincoln County that will be replaced this year include Route D at Turkey Creek, Route E over Little Lead Creek, and Route A at Camp Creek.  The Route D bridge replacement will begin on Monday, February 13, and the road will be closed during construction.  The other two bridges will be replaced this summer.

"The Route D bridge is one of the first ones this year we are working on, and it should reopen within 60 days," said MoDOT's Northeast District Construction and Materials Engineer Macy Rodenbaugh.  "We will have more information available at the community briefing, and everything we know right now is posted on our web pages at modot.org/northeast," Rodenbaugh explained.  "We have met with elected officials such as legislators and county commissioners to explain more details and to answer questions about the Safe and Sound Bridge Program, and we will continue to get the messages out there through media," he said.  State Representative Ed Schieffer is expected to attend the meeting.

The bridge is being replaced under MoDOT's Safe and Sound Bridge Program, which will improve 802 bridges across the state. Northeast Missouri has about 80 bridges on the program, and there are only 24 left to complete. "Most of these bridges are on smaller roads with low traffic volume, and the closure is short, yet we know it will be inconvenient to some," Rodenbaugh continued.

MoDOT encourages those interested in this project and others to go to the website for more details or call the customer service center toll-free at 1-888-275-6636.