Three area bridges were recently closed or restricted due to inspections being conducted, including one in Platte City last week.
The Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT) has been inspecting several bridges in Platte County according to the department’s two year inspection schedule.
Last week, the Route HH Bridge over Interstate 29 at Platte City was closed for a couple of days as crews conducted a thorough inspection of the bridge.
According to Kerri Lewis, MoDOT community relations specialist, there were no repairs needed for the bridge while it was closed.
The bridge carries 736 vehicles per day and was constructed in 1959.
Another bridge inspected last week was found to have structural problems. The 45 Highway Bridge over the Burlington Northern Santa Fe (BNSF) tracks near the Iatan Power Plant was reduced to one lane and a weight limit was established for the bridge.
According to Lewis, the concrete pillars on the bridge were found to be failing and MoDOT reduced the traffic to one lane and included a temporary signal at the bridge. The bridge was also given a weight limit of 10 tons.
MoDOT crews repaired the bridge on Friday and are expected to remove the lane limitations, weight limit, and signal on Wednesday morning. Lewis said the bridge will still have a special limit for trucks over 23 tons requiring them to not exceed 15 miles per hour over the bridge.
The bridge was constructed in 1936 and carries more than 3,400 vehicles per day.
Previously, MoDOT closed the E Highway Bridge over Jowler Creek near Camden Point on Jan. 14. The bridge was closed after a routine inspection determined problems in the bottom side of the bridge.
Crews with MoDOT installed additional steel girders under the bridge and reopened the bridge on Jan. 23. The bridge is still restricted to one lane of traffic and is slated to be replaced in the state’s Safe and Sound Bridge Program.
The program will replace the 802 worst bridges in the state by 2014.
The Camden Point bridge was constructed in 1933 and carries 1,986 vehicles per day.
1/28/09: Bridge repairs already done at Camden Point 1/21/09: MoDOT to reopen bridge in Platte County 1/21/09: Camden Point bridge closed by MoDOT