HANNIBAL, MO – Weather permitting, the bridge over Brushy Creek on Route A in Schuyler County, about 8 miles south of Downing, will close around 7 a.m. on Monday, May 2 for replacement. It is expected to reopen by late September. This is the tenth bridge to go under construction in northern Missouri as part of the FARM (Fixing Access to Rural Missouri) Bridge Program.
The bridge was built in 1933 and carries about 300 vehicles per day on average.
"We have 31 weight-restricted, poor condition bridges in northern Missouri to replace under this federally-funded program,” stated Missouri Department of Transportation Project Director Jeff Gander. Lehman-Wilson was awarded the design-build contract by the Missouri Highways and Transportation Commission at its meeting in May 2021 to replace the bridges. “The MoDOT team has worked closely with the contractor to develop plans for these improvements, and by October 2023, all 31 bridges will be replaced,” Gander noted. Three bridges are completed, and six others are currently under construction.
“We understand closing a road can be challenging, yet it’s the best use of our tax dollars, it makes it safer for all the workers, and it speeds up construction,” Gander explained. There is no posted detour on most of these projects.
The program will replace deficient bridges on low-volume routes that are:
- Weight-restricted
- In poor condition
- On timber pile
- One-lane but carry two-way traffic
The full list of bridges to be replaced can be found on the FARM Bridge program web page. For other projects in your area, refer to MoDOT’s NE District Construction Guide.
Design-build is a project delivery method in which one contracting team is selected to design and build the highway improvement under one contract. MoDOT provides the project goals, budget and schedule and the contractor team completes the work. This technique has been known to significantly save time and provide cost savings.
“Signs will be placed several days before each closure, and we encourage residents in these areas to sign up to receive our email and text alerts,” Gander said. MoDOT will continue to send information and updates to local media for their distribution. MoDOT’s online traveler map also shows locations of work zones and road closures.
Taking care of potholes, culverts and other issues on state roads require MoDOT crews work alongside traffic. Please watch out for our crews, pay attention to signs and slow down in all work zones. Subscribe to our e-update service and receive notifications about where road work is occurring in your area, and you can get text alerts on road closures, too! Follow us on Facebook or Twitter @MoDOT_Northeast for road updates.