By BRENT MARTIN
St. Joseph Post
A northern Missouri bridge closed a little more than a year ago due to structural deterioration should reopen next spring.
The Missouri Department of Transportation says the Route YY bridge over the Middle Fork of the Grand River just east of Worth was included in Gov. Mike Parson’s “Focus on Bridges” program to which the legislature appropriated $50 million. The program targets 45 bridges throughout the state badly in need of repair.
The truss bridge was built in 1927. MoDOT closed the bridge to traffic in September of last year when a regular inspection revealed critical deterioration. MoDOT has contracted with Boone Construction Company to replace the bridge and reopen it to traffic in the spring of 2020.
MoDOT says motorists should continue to use U.S. Route 169 as an alternate route until the new bridge has been constructed.