MoDOT Shares Info on Stone Co. Bridge Projects in 2019
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April 5, 2018
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A MoDOT image showing rust on the Route 76 Bridge over Table Rock Lake.
Isaac Estes-Jones
Stone County drivers will face a number of traffic delays and potential detours in 2019, as Missouri Department of Transportation prepares to resurface the Highway 76 bridge over Table Rock Lake and replace the 95 year old bridge over Railey Creek in Galena next year. Exact construction details are still being decided and MoDOT is listening public concerns on both projects.
“We are still seeking input from people who will be affected by these projects,” said Kristi Bachman, the Project Manager with MoDOT on both of these projects.
Highway 248 bridge over Railey Creek
At some point in 2019, MoDOT will close the bridge over Railey Creek where it joins the James River just east of Galena. “The bridge could be closed for up to six months,” Bachman said.
A public meeting will be held on Thursday, April 12 in the Stone County Commission chambers at the courthouse in Galena. This meeting will be a come-and-go style without a formal presentation that will be open from 4:30 p.m. to 6 p.m.
MoDOT encourages anyone who will be impacted by this project to attend the meeting and let them hear what you have to say.
The bridge, which has overhead trusses, was built in the 1920s. The entire structure will be replaced with a modern bridge, Bachman told the Chronicle. “The nice thing is it won’t have the overhead truss anymore, which will help with issues from height restrictions,” she said. The bridge would also be widened to 30 feet. Total costs for this project are estimated to be between $890,000 and $1.2 million.
According to a press release about next week’s public meeting, proposed detours include using “Routes 160/13 and Route 176 to get around the project.” Other potential detours include running south on 173 and across on Highway 76.
More information on the project will be shared with the public at the meeting next week.
Highway 76 bridge over TRL
A public meeting on the 76 bridge was held on Tuesday, March 20, but MoDOT continues to accept comments on its website http://www.modot.org/southwest.
MoDOT is considering two different options on the 76 bridge. One option would close both lanes of the bridge for about 2 months, Bachaman said. “That is the ‘traditional’ way of replacing bridges. It would give us more options to keep the look of the bridge the way it is. If we do the other option, which is only closing the bridge at night for three months, we are limited to doing pre-cast decking, which will remove the double-channel railing,” she said.
According to Historic Bridge Information Sheet provided on the project’s website, the 76 bridge was constructed in 1957 as a Plate Girder type bridge. A picture of the double channel railing is available on that page. It refers to the design of the railings along the side of the bridge over the lake.
“With the two month (full) closure, we could ensure the bridge would look similar to what it is now,” Bachman said. “But only closing at night would limit us to the pre-cast method, where the deck pieces come to us ready-made, we would be limited to a more modern look for the railings.
“We haven’t made a determination yet. We know there are businesses near both of these bridges who will have their operations impacted. We want to take business and season impacts and needs into consideration. We’ve already heard lots of concerns about the timing of the work and impacts on the schools,” Bachman said.
Costs also make a difference. “The pre-cast deck option is about $600,000 more expensive than traditional replacement. We want to make sure we use our funds responsibly,” Bachman said. So, while using pre-cast deck panels would require the bridge to only be closed at night for three months, the materials alone are more expensive than a traditional, 24/7 closure for two months.
With either replacement option, the Route 76 bridge will be made at least 2 feet wider, Bachman shared. The bridge carries over 4,000 vehicles across the lake a day. A proposed detour route would be approximately 20 miles around the lake, using Route 248 through Galena to Reeds Spring and down.
Bachman did not have an exact timeline for when the Highway 76 replacement method would be decided. “We want to listen to everyone and understand the impact before we start,” she said. Construction is scheduled for sometime in 2019 to 2020.
Because the detours for each of these projects will involve affected vehicles using the other bridge, MoDOT says the projects will not occur at the same time.
Stone County drivers will face a number of traffic delays and potential detours in 2019, as Missouri Department of Transportation prepares to resurface the Highway 76 bridge over Table Rock Lake and replace the 95 year old bridge over Railey Creek in Galena next year. Exact construction details are still being decided and MoDOT is listening public concerns on both projects.
“We are still seeking input from people who will be affected by these projects,” said Kristi Bachman, the Project Manager with MoDOT on both of these projects.
Highway 248 bridge over Railey Creek
At some point in 2019, MoDOT will close the bridge over Railey Creek where it joins the James River just east of Galena. “The bridge could be closed for up to six months,” Bachman said.
A public meeting will be held on Thursday, April 12 in the Stone County Commission chambers at the courthouse in Galena. This meeting will be a come-and-go style without a formal presentation that will be open from 4:30 p.m. to 6 p.m.
MoDOT encourages anyone who will be impacted by this project to attend the meeting and let them hear what you have to say.
The bridge, which has overhead trusses, was built in the 1920s. The entire structure will be replaced with a modern bridge, Bachman told the Chronicle. “The nice thing is it won’t have the overhead truss anymore, which will help with issues from height restrictions,” she said. The bridge would also be widened to 30 feet. Total costs for this project are estimated to be between $890,000 and $1.2 million.
According to a press release about next week’s public meeting, proposed detours include using “Routes 160/13 and Route 176 to get around the project.” Other potential detours include running south on 173 and across on Highway 76.
More information on the project will be shared with the public at the meeting next week.
Highway 76 bridge over TRL
A public meeting on the 76 bridge was held on Tuesday, March 20, but MoDOT continues to accept comments on its website http://www.modot.org/southwest.
MoDOT is considering two different options on the 76 bridge. One option would close both lanes of the bridge for about 2 months, Bachaman said. “That is the ‘traditional’ way of replacing bridges. It would give us more options to keep the look of the bridge the way it is. If we do the other option, which is only closing the bridge at night for three months, we are limited to doing pre-cast decking, which will remove the double-channel railing,” she said.
According to Historic Bridge Information Sheet provided on the project’s website, the 76 bridge was constructed in 1957 as a Plate Girder type bridge. A picture of the double channel railing is available on that page. It refers to the design of the railings along the side of the bridge over the lake.
“With the two month (full) closure, we could ensure the bridge would look similar to what it is now,” Bachman said. “But only closing at night would limit us to the pre-cast method, where the deck pieces come to us ready-made, we would be limited to a more modern look for the railings.
“We haven’t made a determination yet. We know there are businesses near both of these bridges who will have their operations impacted. We want to take business and season impacts and needs into consideration. We’ve already heard lots of concerns about the timing of the work and impacts on the schools,” Bachman said.
Costs also make a difference. “The pre-cast deck option is about $600,000 more expensive than traditional replacement. We want to make sure we use our funds responsibly,” Bachman said. So, while using pre-cast deck panels would require the bridge to only be closed at night for three months, the materials alone are more expensive than a traditional, 24/7 closure for two months.
With either replacement option, the Route 76 bridge will be made at least 2 feet wider, Bachman shared. The bridge carries over 4,000 vehicles across the lake a day. A proposed detour route would be approximately 20 miles around the lake, using Route 248 through Galena to Reeds Spring and down.
Bachman did not have an exact timeline for when the Highway 76 replacement method would be decided. “We want to listen to everyone and understand the impact before we start,” she said. Construction is scheduled for sometime in 2019 to 2020.
Because the detours for each of these projects will involve affected vehicles using the other bridge, MoDOT says the projects will not occur at the same time.