SUGAR CREEK, Mo. – Route 291 at the Missouri River was opened to both northbound and southbound traffic early Monday morning.
A routine bridge inspection prompted the Missouri Department of Transportation to immediately close the northbound Route 291 Bridge over the Missouri River on July 7. Rust had significantly damaged the bridge, prompting the closure.
Contractors created a crossover in just a couple of days to reopen 291 to northbound traffic. APAC of Kansas was awarded the $329,178 contract to complete the work. The company had until 3 p.m. Tuesday to complete the project without penalty, but worked quickly to finish it by 5 a.m. Monday.
MoDOT is also trying to find solutions to repair the northbound Missouri River Bridge on Route 291.
The bridge design division in Jefferson City contacted Wiss, Janney, and Elstner Associates of Chicago, a nationally known bridge engineering firm, to evaluate the bridge. The firm will evaluate the bridge, analyze the findings and propose solutions to repair the bridge. MoDOT anticipates it could be late summer before solutions are ready for evaluation.
Until the bridge is repaired and reopened, motorists will be able to use the crossover. For more information, go to
MoDOT's Web site.
