Marshall to explore municipalities bridge program for Eastwood span

For the last several months, residents living on the county road just east of the Marshall city limits past the Eastwood Street "viaduct" have had to go the long way around -- looping around on Highway 240 -- to access the city.

A Missouri Department of Transportation press release in April 2005 cited deterioration of the bridges' substructure, especially the bridge that crosses railroad tracks, as a reason for the viaduct's closing. The viaduct was closed the same day -- April 22 -- by the Marshall Special Road District.

Thursday afternoon, officials from the city, county, road district and MoDOT met to discuss what to do about the bridges -- one over the railroad tracks and the other very nearly adjacent bridge over Salt Fork Creek.

Mayor Connie Latimer said the bridge over the railroad tracks (closest to the entrance of Indian Foothills Park) is more of an immediate concern, in terms of deteriorating structure, but that it only makes sense to tackle replacement of both bridges at the same time.

Latimer said the city is working with an engineer to determine the feasibility of replacing the old viaduct with either one bridge over both the tracks and creek or two structures but needs to get a total cost estimate for the project. A factor in whether one or two bridges are built might be the likelihood that the railroad will request the height of the bridge be increased over its tracks by at least a couple of feet.

A potential source of funding for the project -- which could cost as much as $1.5 to $2 million -- is the Bridge Replacement Municipalities (BRM) program.

Ron Watts, a liaison engineer with MoDOT's North Central District, explained that the BRM program is competitive, meaning municipalities must apply for grant funds and bridges funded must be within city limits. The program is also only for cities with populations of more than 5,000 but less than 200,000.

To use BRM funds, the city would have to annex the bridges into the city's street system, something Latimer indicated a willingness to do, pending granting of easements by the railroad.

The next round of BRM funds will be awarded in June, with about $1.5 million expected to be distributed.

Watts was encouraging about Marshall's odds if it can meet the deadline for applying, saying the last time District 2 had any cities apply for BRM funds was about five years ago and that time both the cities received money.

An award through the BRM program would pay for 80 percent of the bridge replacement, with the city and possibly other contributing governmental entities coming up with 20 percent in cash, in-kind work or donated right-of-ways.

If, after consulting an engineer later this month, the cost of the project is determined to be too high, "that would be a shame," said Latimer. "But the real shame would be not doing anything."

Contact Mark Lile at

marshallbusiness@socket.net