ST. JOSEPH, MO – The Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT)is accepting proposals for the reuse by other parties of the railing from the 1922 Bee Creek (W0444) and the Branch Creek (Y0010) bridges, north of Dearborn. These concrete railings are formed concrete balustrades with poured balusters. Each railing is 3 feet high. Lengths of railing are 11 or 15 feet, depending on the location on the bridge. There are three lengths of 15-foot railing, six lengths of 11-foot railing and several individual balusters available for reuse.
Each baluster is 1.5 feet high and is 10 inches across at the widest point.
MoDOT’s Historic Preservation Section is now accepting proposals for the relocation and reuse of these bridge components until April 14. 2022. Those interested in reusing the bridge railings should send a proposal including how much of the railing they are interested in, how they would transport it from the bridge location to its destination, and how it would be reused. MoDOT may follow up with additional questions.
A proposal checklist, more information about the bridge, and photos are available on MoDOT’s Free Bridges website: modot.org/free-bridges.
The bridge is eligible for listing in the National Register of Historic Places. Because of that eligibility, federal law requires any state proposing demolition of a historic bridge to first make it available for donation to a state, locality or responsible private entity. The bridge railings can be obtained by government entities, historical or civic groups, or private citizens, free of charge. The cost to remove the bridge components is borne by the party obtaining them.
For questions or additional information, please contact Senior Historic Preservation Specialist Karen Daniels at 573-526-7346 or Karen.Daniels@modot.mo.gov.
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