Miami bridge officially closed for rebuilding project

Front row, from left to right, Kevin James with MoDOT, Sen. Bill Stouffer, Carroll County District I Commissioner Jim Stewart, Carroll County Presiding Commissioner Nelson Hisle, Miami Mayor John Bakert, Miami resident Dorothy Clements, Bill Hisle, Bosworth resident Delores Potter, Gene Elson, Miami resident Bob Hisle and Saline County Presiding Commissioner Becky Plattner. Back row from left to right, Carroll County District II Commissioner David Martin, Don Hillis with MoDOT, Saline County Northern District Commissioner Norvelle "Brownie" Brown, State Rep. Joe Aull and Saline County Southern District Commissioner Richard "Dick" Hassler, all on hand to break ground on the Missouri River bridge project at Miami Monday, Oct. 5. (Sydney Stonner/Democrat-News) [Click to enlarge] [Order this photo]

After a postponed start because of delays at the Glasgow bridge project, Missouri Department of Transportation and area government officials broke ground on the new Missouri River bridge at Miami Monday, Oct. 5.

The ceremony opened as members of the Brunswick American Legion presented the colors and led those assembled in the Pledge of Allegiance.

Chris Webber, pastor of Gilliam Baptist Church, offered an opening blessing at the ceremony. He gave a prayer for safety during the construction, adding that "the workmen are to be admired."

Webber also pointed out that the foundations of all bridges are built in the shape of a cross.

Kevin James, MoDOT assistant district engineer, spoke about the technical aspects of the bridge work. He said the structure will not be completely demolished; rather, the new bridge will be built on the existing piers. The new bridge will be 26 feet wide with 11-foot lanes and 2-foot shoulders.

State Sen. Bill Stouffer, R-Napton, called the project "a tremendous efficient use of taxpayer money and assets we already have."

Like others present, Stouffer mentioned the hassle the bridge closure will bring to many area residents.

"We have a project here that I know is going to be of great inconvenience for those folks that use this bridge every day," he said. But, "When it's finished, you're going to have something to really be proud of."

State Rep. Joe Aull, D-Marshall, gave an account of his personal experiences with the Missouri River bridge at Miami. He told of bus trips to basketball games in Carrolton, where the bus might've scraped the side of the bridge, when he was a coach and teacher at Slater High School.

"We got a piece of that bridge," he laughed. "We did our part to help with the demolition of the bridge."

Aull called the current bridge a beautiful structure, and said it is "kind of nostalgic to see it go."

Saline County Presiding Commissioner Becky Plattner also spoke at the ceremony.

"With this beautiful morning, I can't help but feel blessed that this project will go smoothly and be completed before you realize that you've even been inconvenienced," she said.

Miami Mayor John Bakert mentioned the old competition between Miami and Arrow Rock to get a Missouri River bridge and the toll booth that used to be on the Miami end of the structure.

Bakert spoke about the beauty of the bridge, too. He said that on foggy mornings, the bridge looks almost like a Norman Rockwell painting.

"We're going to miss the bridge behind us here, the truss bridge," he said. "Those bridges are slowly fading out of the pages of history."

But, "It's time to move on," he said. "Just for the safety of everyone, we just close the old and look forward to the new."

MoDOT has not yet announced dates for demolition of the bridge, but the structure is now closed to through traffic. Those interested can watch the project Webcam to see live streaming video of the bridge work.

Contact Sydney Stonner at marshallbusiness@socket.net

On the Web:
http://www.modot.mo.gov/northcentral/mia...