Plans are underway to replace the bridge on Route 13 over Honey Creek. The Missouri Department of Transportation held a community briefing on Oct. 19 at the Gallatin R-5 School in the commons area.
This website brought to you in part by the following sponsor:
Area farmers expressed concern that construction might interfere with field work. Designers and engineers from the Missouri Department of Transportation said the goal is to start before farmers need to get in the field, and also before school starts.
According to MoDOT’s timetable, the design phase and comment period is taking place now. The letting for contractor bids will take place next March; contracts will be awarded in April; and the contractor will have authority to begin work in May. The completion date is set for Aug. 2018. The schedule is only a proposal and is subject to change. Once the contract has been awarded, MoDOT will meet with the contractor to determine the exact schedule of the closure.
Area farmers asked if the new bridge would be any wider. The new bridge will be six feet wider. The current bridge is 22 feet wide, has two 10-foot lanes and one-foot shoulders. The new bridge will be 28 feet wide with two 12-
foot lanes and two-foot shoulders.
Fishermen and trappers — that have occasion to be under the bridge — told the engineers that the bridge shakes when traffic goes over. MoDOT officials said if the bridge were not safe, people would not be allowed to drive over it.
The present bridge was built in 1934 and does not meet current standards and has a weight limit. The new bridge will meet current standards and the weight restrictions will be removed.
The road will be closed during construction. Closing saves taxpayer money by allowing the contractor to work more efficiently, and it will result in a shorter construction period.
The proposed signage for detour is over US Route 36, Interstate 35, and Route 6.
As for buying right-of-ways, MoDOT says only the purchase of two construction easements is anticipated at this time.
Other questions were in regard to the steady eroding of Honey Creek.
Asked about the cost of the bridge, MoDOT said the final design plan should be done in November and then they should have a final cost.
The bridge on Route 13 over Honey Creek is 282 feet long, carries approximately 1,500 cars per day, and has exceeded its intended lifespan. Most of the state’s 10,376 bridges were designed and built to last 50 years. MoDOT said the new bridge should last into the next century.
Picture: MoDOT personnel attending the Oct. 19 meeting included Tim Miner, highway designer; Darin Splittgarber, with the consulting firm for the bridge design; Rick Orr, project manager; Austin Hibler, area engineer; Marcia Johnson, communication specialist; and not pictured, Emily Bryan, communication specialist. Representative J. Eggleston also attended.