SIKESTON - The historic Route 49 bridge over Branch Creek in Iron County is available for relocation and reuse by others. Any interested party is encouraged to submit a proposal no later than Dec. 31, 2021 to the Missouri Department of Transportation Historic Preservation Section to obtain the structure.
Slated for replacement, this bridge can be obtained by government entities, historical or civic groups, or private citizens, free of charge. Details about the bridge can be viewed online at www.modot.org/freebridges. Anyone interested in obtaining a historic bridge must submit a detailed proposal describing the dismantling and relocation plan, cost and future use. A proposal checklist is available online.
The Route 49 bridge is a five-panel, 60-foot long Pratt Pony Truss constructed in 1924. The bridge utilized a standard Pratt with a modified bottom chord to accommodate the skew. The bridge has concrete abutments and wing walls, built up truss members, a concrete deck with asphalt wearing surface, and gas pipe railing. The structure is located just north of Vulcan, Missouri.
This bridge is eligible for the National Register of Historic Places under criterion C for local significance in engineering as an excellent surviving example of a standard plan Pratt Pony Truss. In addition, it is eligible under criterion A for local significance in transportation for its association with the development of the state highway system, specifically the construction of the build out of the system following the passage of the Centennial Road Law and the development of the early state highways in Missouri.
For more information, please contact Senior Historic Preservation Specialist Karen Daniels at (573) 526-7346 or Karen.Daniels@modot.mo.gov or visit www.modot.org/freebridges.
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