ST. JOSEPH, Mo. – Construction is set to begin next week on the Chariton County Route D bridge over Clark Branch, located approximately 1 mile east of Missouri Route 5. The bridge will be replaced through the FARM (Fixing Access to Rural Missouri) Bridge Program. The roadway was closed at the bridge in early May, but the Design-Build Contractor, Lehman-Wilson, faced multiple delays due to crew and equipment availability.
Crews plan to begin with demolition of the existing bridge on Monday, June 12. Construction is expected to be complete, and the roadway reopened by mid-October. The Clark Branch Bridge, located 0.5 miles west of Route 129, is also closed for replacement through the FARM Bridge program and is expected to reopen by mid-September.
“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 2022 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.
“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 Clark Branch Bridge was bult in 1938 and has a traffic volume of approximately 200 vehicles per day. The East Fork of Bee Branch Bridge was built in 1935 and has a traffic volume of approximately 150 vehicles per day.
The FARM Bridge 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.
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 on these roads a few weeks 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.
MoDOT asks drivers to work with us by always buckling up, keeping your phone down, slowing down and moving over in work zones. Know before you go and check what work zones you might encounter at traveler.modot.org.
While at modot.org, sign up online for work zone updates. Information is also available 24/7 at 888-ASK-MODOT (275-6636) or via social media.
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FARM Bridge Program web page