LUCERNE, Mo. – Rain, flooding and an early October snowfall have wreaked havoc on the best-laid plans to complete the bridge replacements on the West Fork Locust Creek and Elm Branch bridges. Both bridges, located on U.S. Route 136 east of Lucerne, closed in June of this year are being rebuilt in the same alignment as their predecessors.
The Missouri Department of Transportation contracted with Boone Construction Company of Columbia to complete both bridge replacements. At the beginning of September, those crews thought they were in the final stretch of work and could open both bridges by the end of September.
Mother Nature had other plans. Barring any further delays, the crews now are looking at a Nov. 5 completion date. They hope to have both bridges open and traffic flowing normally on or before that date.
During the remainder of the work, however, the bridges will remain closed and motorists will need to seek an alternate route.
As always, all schedules are weather dependent and subject to change.
These two bridges have served Putnam County travelers since 1931 and carry more than 2,100 cars and trucks each day. When they reopen, travelers over the new structures will see roadway improvements and safety enhancements. Each new bridge will be 32 feet wide with wider lanes and new four-foot shoulders.
For more information about this and other MoDOT projects, call 1-888-ASK-MODOT (888-275-6636
) or visit www.modot.org/northwest and view the online Traveler Information Map. In addition, MoDOT provides updated information on Twitter @MoDOTNorthwest and Facebook at www.facebook.com/MoDOTNWDistrict.
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