Long Creek Bridge Reopens Weeks Ahead Of Schedule
Isaac Estes-Jones
On Friday, June 7, the Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT) announced the reopening of Long Creek Bridge weeks ahead of schedule. The bridge was originally set to be closed until July 4.
According to a press release by MoDOT, the work was completed quickly thanks to advanced planning and less deterioration than they originally expected.
“The Long Creek bridge, which carries Missouri Route 86 across Table Rock Lake, opened to traffic at 8:15 a.m. today, Friday, June 7, three weeks ahead of schedule,” reads the press release.
Urgent repairs necessitated the closure. Earlier this year, a bridge inspection revealed substantial issues with the support structure of the bridge, leading to a 25-ton weight limit being imposed in February.
Further work by MoDOT revealed urgent repairs were required to make the bridge safe to all traffic.
The bridge was closed to traffic on Monday, June 3, after scaffolding was installed the previous week.
Three MoDOT bridge crews worked 12- to 14-hour days to complete the repairs. MoDOT says the repairs were completed ahead of schedule after the scope of work was less complicated than expected and because all needed materials were on-site.
The crews, two from the Springfield district and one from Sikeston in MoDOT’s southeast district, repaired the bearings that connect the roadway to the bridge truss support system in 22 locations. Originally, 24 locations were suspected to be in need of repair, and MoDOT anticipated finding additional damaged areas. However, no additional deterioration was found.
“Our concern was that there would be deterioration on other components of the bridge. But, once we laid eyes on the underside of the bridge, it just wasn’t there, and the other sections weren’t as bad as we had worried,” said Angela Eden, Senior Communications Specialist with MoDOT Southwest.
“We did a lot of advanced planning and had some really skilled people, including the extra crew, that worked really hard to get this done ahead of schedule,” said Eden.
Now that repairs are complete, MoDOT has removed the 25-ton weight limit, and the bridge is open to all traffic.
MoDOT “thanks the Long Creek community for their understanding and patience during the five day closing.”
“We are excited to get the bridge opened before the weekend so that anyone traveling in the area can get where they are going easily,” said Eden.
MoDOT crews have updated messages on the electronic, changeable message boards. Detour signs along Route 13, Route 76, Route 465, Route 65 and Route 86 will be removed starting the week of June 10.
MoDOT will make a determination about the future of the Long Creek bridge later this summer. Feedback from a February public meeting, information from transportation stakeholders and environmental studies are being analyzed and will be used to make the best decision about the future of the bridge.
“We’re hoping to make an announcement in mid- to late-June on the long-term option,” said Eden.
“From there, we are committed to coming back to the community with some drawings and plans,” said Eden. MoDOT will hold a public meeting to share the plans for the proposed bridge project after the final options are announced.
Construction on the project could start as early as 2022. The estimated total cost for the long-term project is $36 million.
On Friday, June 7, the Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT) announced the reopening of Long Creek Bridge weeks ahead of schedule. The bridge was originally set to be closed until July 4.
According to a press release by MoDOT, the work was completed quickly thanks to advanced planning and less deterioration than they originally expected.
“The Long Creek bridge, which carries Missouri Route 86 across Table Rock Lake, opened to traffic at 8:15 a.m. today, Friday, June 7, three weeks ahead of schedule,” reads the press release.
Urgent repairs necessitated the closure. Earlier this year, a bridge inspection revealed substantial issues with the support structure of the bridge, leading to a 25-ton weight limit being imposed in February.
Further work by MoDOT revealed urgent repairs were required to make the bridge safe to all traffic.
The bridge was closed to traffic on Monday, June 3, after scaffolding was installed the previous week.
Three MoDOT bridge crews worked 12- to 14-hour days to complete the repairs. MoDOT says the repairs were completed ahead of schedule after the scope of work was less complicated than expected and because all needed materials were on-site.
The crews, two from the Springfield district and one from Sikeston in MoDOT’s southeast district, repaired the bearings that connect the roadway to the bridge truss support system in 22 locations. Originally, 24 locations were suspected to be in need of repair, and MoDOT anticipated finding additional damaged areas. However, no additional deterioration was found.
“Our concern was that there would be deterioration on other components of the bridge. But, once we laid eyes on the underside of the bridge, it just wasn’t there, and the other sections weren’t as bad as we had worried,” said Angela Eden, Senior Communications Specialist with MoDOT Southwest.
“We did a lot of advanced planning and had some really skilled people, including the extra crew, that worked really hard to get this done ahead of schedule,” said Eden.
Now that repairs are complete, MoDOT has removed the 25-ton weight limit, and the bridge is open to all traffic.
MoDOT “thanks the Long Creek community for their understanding and patience during the five day closing.”
“We are excited to get the bridge opened before the weekend so that anyone traveling in the area can get where they are going easily,” said Eden.
MoDOT crews have updated messages on the electronic, changeable message boards. Detour signs along Route 13, Route 76, Route 465, Route 65 and Route 86 will be removed starting the week of June 10.
MoDOT will make a determination about the future of the Long Creek bridge later this summer. Feedback from a February public meeting, information from transportation stakeholders and environmental studies are being analyzed and will be used to make the best decision about the future of the bridge.
“We’re hoping to make an announcement in mid- to late-June on the long-term option,” said Eden.
“From there, we are committed to coming back to the community with some drawings and plans,” said Eden. MoDOT will hold a public meeting to share the plans for the proposed bridge project after the final options are announced.
Construction on the project could start as early as 2022. The estimated total cost for the long-term project is $36 million.