Bridge project on Route 127 to begin Tuesday

Friday, April 10, 2009

The Route 127 bridge over Salt Fork Creek in Saline County will close mid-morning Tuesday, April 14, according to a Missouri Department of Transportation news release. The bridge is located just south of U.S. Highway 65 near Malta Bend.

The closure of the bridge is necessary to replace the deteriorated bridge deck.

The closure could last up to 75 days while the work is completed; motorists must choose alternate routes during this time.

The Safe & Sound program will replace or rehabilitate 800 bridges across the state within the next five years; most of the bridges will be closed to traffic.

"We realize there is inconvenience to local residents during these closures," said Construction Engineer Dennis Brucks. "However, closing the bridges greatly reduces the cost, allowing us to rehabilitate or replace more bridges, and it also gets the work done quickly so the bridges can reopen to traffic."

Two other bridges in Saline County are also scheduled for closure and rehabilitation this year.

MoDOT will inform the public when the work and closures are scheduled to begin. The contractor's tentative work schedule is:

Route YY -- Closed June 15 for approximately 60 days. The bridge is located just west of U.S. 65 over Finney Creek
Route 127 -- Closed Aug. 10 for approximately 90 days. The bridge is located just south of Sweet Springs over the Blackwater River

MoDOT held a public meeting on March 12 in Marshall to discuss the upcoming bridge work and closures.

Phillips Grading & Construction Company was awarded the $1,250,000 contract for rehabilitation of all three bridges last February.

All of the work is weather dependent and could be delayed or rescheduled.

For more information about these bridges and others in the Safe & Sound Program, contact the MoDOT District 2 Customer Service Center toll-free at 1-888-ASK MoDOT (275-6636)

On the Net:
www.modot..mo.gov/northcentral/safesound...