By MATT PIKE
A St. Joseph bridge project that originally wasn't slated to begin until 2027, but was accelerated due to a traffic accident, is nearly completed after almost six months of work.
The northwest district of the Missouri Department of Transportation celebrated the collaboration between the city of St. Joseph, along with the contracting work of Clarkson Construction, in completing the Gene Field Road Bridge with a ribbon cutting on Friday.
District Engineer Marty Liles says getting this project done is especially exciting considering it wasn't even originally supposed to be done until December of 2027.
"Unfortunately, we had a big super load that came to it and damaged the girders, we had to close it down, I'm pleased with our engineering team to come in and fast track that, get it in as a special letting in January," Liles tells reporters.
Fast tracking the project allowed MoDOT to get it done 18 months ahead of schedule. Liles says it's also good to get this done because they saw the traffic impacts the bridge being closed was causing.
"We've seen traffic flows in the city on other city streets and through Frederick that we adjusted the timing but there's still congestion," Liles explains. "I know that i was pleased with the public and the traveling public just to have patience with us, and I think what they saw was that when Clarkson was in here working diligiently at it,they knew there was light at the end of the tunnel."
Originally, when the bridge closed, engineers believed the project might not even begin construction until this summer. Clarkson Construction though demolished the bridge in February, and by the end of June will have it open.
Liles says for traffic in St. Joseph and for MoDOT getting this project done so far ahead of schedule is huge.
"Everything had to really click to be just right, the plans had to be done, but even at that once you get the bridge plans done and you get it awarded there's a lot of materials, a lot of girders, a lot of fuel stuff, and a lot of stuff that had to be fabricated and actually delivered here," Liles says. "So, the contractor they really had to pull some maneuvers to try to get those girders fabricated and delivered here in a short amount of time."
"And sometimes that's one of the things that takes the time is getting the materials on site to get that work done, so huge thing to get that done."
There is still some minor work to do on the bridge to be fully completed, with some things left to dry due to weather conditions through the week, as well as some final roadway touches, but the Gene Field Road Bridge is expected to be opened on Tuesday, June 30th.
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