The Wildlife Road / Otterville Ford Bridge (No. 2380020) over Lamine River is a steel, 9-panel, pin-connected Parker thru truss with a 3-panel, pin-connected Pratt half-hip pony truss approach span on the west end, four steel stringer approach spans on the east end with concrete abutments and wing walls, concrete-filled still cylinder piers under channel span, and steel pile bents under stringer approach spans. When the bridge was inventoried in 1993, it was recommended as eligible for the NRHP as a well-preserved, well-documented example of an uncommon structural type. At the time, fewer than three dozen pin-connected Parker truss bridges remained in situ, of which the Otterville Ford Bridge exhibited relatively excellent structural integrity and a high level of documentation. During a 2023 survey, the bridge was observed to have retained the integrity of its original design, with all character-defining features intact, including the polygonal top chord, inclined end posts, diagonals in each panel, different vertical lengths, floor beams, stringers, structs, pin connections, struts, and bracings. MoDOT concluded that the bridge remains eligible for the NRHP under Criterion C.

The Cooper County Commision is now accepting proposals for the relocation and reuse of the bridge or its components until January 27, 2026. A proposal checklist is available MoDOT’s Free Bridges website (http://www.modot.org/freebridges/). Preservation covenants may accompany the bridge.

Return the form, along with 2-3 jpeg images of the bridge, to the MoDOT Historic Preservation Section at least 3 months prior to the end of the marketing period and at least 2 weeks prior to the beginning of the marketing period.