A plan to replace Standing Rock Creek Bridge on Highway 19 north of Gladden is “no longer viable,” according to MoDOT Area Engineer Preston Kramer.
Representatives from the Meramec Regional Planning Commission, Kramer with MoDOT, the Shannon County Commission, the City of Salem, and state representatives Ron Copeland and Don Mayhew met with Dent County commissioners in the upstairs courtroom to discuss priority transportation needs for the county during the commission’s Monday meeting.
One of the topics of discussion was the Standing Rock Creek Bridge on Highway 19 north of Gladden (sometimes called the Gladden Creek Bridge), which at around a century old, is due for replacement. MoDOT recently held a public hearing on the topic to receive public comments on the project, and to discuss the timeframe for implementing a 45-day closure of the bridge, along with a 23.1-mile signed detour that would take traffic along routes K and KK, down through Akers and up a stretch of road locally known as the Devil’s Backbone.
Officials discussed early in the project the possibility of constructing a half-bridge across the creek, which would allow traffic to continue to pass the area while the main bridge is being replaced. At the time of the hearing, that plan seemed to be off the table, and MoDOT project material said the entity had determined that a half-bridge would be an imprudent use of taxpayer funds.
The planned 45-day closure caused concern for many residents and officials, who cited steep drop-offs and narrow roadways, among other factors, that they said would present a safety hazard to those living and working in that area as they try to commute to town. The public hearing saw dozens of residents coming out to voice their concerns to MoDOT officials. Though many who spoke on the topic signaled that they are happy the bridge is set to be replaced, many concerns regarding safety and viability of the route were discussed. At the end of the hearing, Kramer told The Salem News “Nothing is set in stone.”
Now, according to discussion from the transportation needs meeting which included Kramer, it seems the plan is changing.
“We had a public meeting two weeks ago or three weeks ago […]. We had a proposal to replace that bridge in 45 calendar days. That was not received well by the public,” said Kramer. “The public comment period did just end Friday. But any we receive this week will be included as well. All I can share with you is the proposal that we shared with the public and at the public meeting is not what we are going to move forward with. There are a number of options that we’re taking a look at.”
Kramer told the gathered officials that as soon as MoDOT has a new proposal, he would share it with them, and that he would probably have more information by the end of the year.
“There’s still probably going to be a detour for some portion of the project,” said Kramer. “So, there’s going to be a detour, but it’s not going to be a 45-day detour,” said Kramer.
“What do you mean by that, longer or shorter?” asked Dent County Presiding Commissioner Gary Larson.
“Oh, gosh. Shorter, yes,” Kramer chuckled. “Originally, it was a 90-day [detour].”
District One Commissioner Wes Mobray told Kramer that however the project proceeds, he appreciates the bridge being built.
“It definitely needs it, but we need to kind of detour off the old plan and find a new plan,” said Mobray.
“The options we’re looking at further minimize the impacts,” said Kramer. “That’s really all I can share at this point.”
Copeland said that as the project evolves and costs change, he would be glad to offer his help working with MoDOT to find extra funding through grants or through the state.
It is still unclear when MoDOT will go ahead with the project; Kramer said that the project was originally slated for fiscal year 2023, but was moved “because of inflation.”
“We’re in Fiscal Year ‘24 now, so ‘24 or ’25,” said Kramer.
Kramer also said that the status of the listed need for the bridge had changed during the public comment period for the project, now reflecting that the bridge was in “serious condition.”
Other areas discussed as priority needs included a need for sidewalk improvements on Highway 19 from Center Street to Highway 32, a need for a crosswalk across Highway 32 near Walmart, and a need for transportation options county-wide. Various other projects and needs were discussed.
The priority needs lists are maintained by Meramec Regional Planning Commission for each county, and allow MRPC to connect local officials with resources, grants, entities, and representatives as appropriate to help meet the needs of the counties.
Other news:
For District One, Mobray reported that crews would be grading on county roads 4126, 6600, and 5380, cutting brush on 6090 and 6100, and performing Title II work—hauling rock on 5600. Mobray said that the county would be reimbursed through federal Title II funding for the $43,000 in rock which will be placed on 5600.
District Two Commissioner Gary Polk reported that his crews would be grading on 2550, 2540, 2500, 4330, and 2510, hauling brush to 3290, 3253, and 3255, and hauling rock to 4330.
Larson reported that he had attended a meeting of the South Central County Commissioner’s Association in Houston on Friday. They met with state representatives and representatives from MoDOT, and discussed Standing Rock Creek Bridge. They also discussed S.B. 190.
“A lot of the counties are doing like us. They’re not moving forward until they hear some more clarification,” said Larson. “But some of them have adopted it. I think Texas county is going to.”
During the October 12 meeting of the commission, Larson reported that he had attended a meeting of the Ozark Rivers Solid Waste Management District, where they had discussed grants which still had funds to distribute. The day prior, he attended a meeting of the MRPC, where they discussed member dues. He said that day that he would attend a meeting of Council for a Healthy Dent County.
During road reports, Mobray reported that District One crews would be grading county roads 6380, 6020, and 5590, cutting brush on 6090 and patching chip-and-seal on roads that need it.
Polk reported that District Two crews would be grading on 4040, 4330, 2530, and 2520; cutting brush on 3290, and hauling rock to 4040.
Also, during the meeting, it was announced that the Salem Octoberfest will be held on Oct. 28 around the courthouse square from 1 p.m. to 7 p.m.
At 10 a.m., the meeting went into a closed session following a motion by Mobray. Polk seconded, and all agreed. The meeting returned to open session at 11 a.m.
A representative from McCoy Construction and Forestry Co. came in to visit about the two new graders that the county had been delivered that week. Larson signed an extended warranty document.
