WASHINGTON, MO (KTVI-FOX2now.com) -
An old, rusting bridge is a lifeline for the Washington, MO community. It carries at least 10,000 people across it a day, but, some fear it doesn't have much life left. The bridge across the Missouri River was opened in 1936. Back then it carried hogs and cattle to market. Today, it is still very economically important, in despite of the rust.
"It's a little shaky that's for sure but I try to avoid it as much as I can," says Stephanie Hagan.
"I think its getting old and we should get a new one," adds another daily driver.
"I guess it's quite a bit of money to get it replaced," says Adam Maune, "so we are just making due."
Plenty of folks will tell you there isn't really ever a good night to cross the almost 75-year-old bridge. For years now, MoDOT has been just making due, because financially that's the only choice.
Dick Stratman, Mayor of Washington, said "We have to fix, we don't have a choice. If we were not doing what we were doing we could have a Minneapolis and we don't want that."
In fact, when the Minneapolis structure collapsed back in 2007, the old Washington span was shut down for emergency inspection and repairs. Now, two years later, $6 million band aid for a bridge diseased with rust.
"Lately we have had some really serious concerns about the understructure." says Stratman. "It looks good on top but, you get underneath, it is filled with rust. The bridge people call it cancer. Its not a real comfortable factor if you go under there."
Or over it either.
There is one lane each way during the construction and not much more comfort when that is over in December. Closing the bridge is not an option since the closest alternate routes would be a 60 mile detour to Chesterfield or longer to Hermann for ten thousand cars a day.
According to the city and MoDOT, this fix buys 6 to 10 years to get the $60 million needed to build a new span across the Missouri River, which is on most people's wish list.
"A new bridge is one of our top priorities," says Stratman, "if not the top priority."
There is already $1.5 million being spent on design and study for a new bridge, but $60 million to build it is no where to be found. Not even in stimulus money will do, so a band aid will have to do for now.
"It's a little shaky that's for sure but I try to avoid it as much as I can," says Stephanie Hagan.
"I think its getting old and we should get a new one," adds another daily driver.
"I guess it's quite a bit of money to get it replaced," says Adam Maune, "so we are just making due."
Plenty of folks will tell you there isn't really ever a good night to cross the almost 75-year-old bridge. For years now, MoDOT has been just making due, because financially that's the only choice.
Dick Stratman, Mayor of Washington, said "We have to fix, we don't have a choice. If we were not doing what we were doing we could have a Minneapolis and we don't want that."
In fact, when the Minneapolis structure collapsed back in 2007, the old Washington span was shut down for emergency inspection and repairs. Now, two years later, $6 million band aid for a bridge diseased with rust.
"Lately we have had some really serious concerns about the understructure." says Stratman. "It looks good on top but, you get underneath, it is filled with rust. The bridge people call it cancer. Its not a real comfortable factor if you go under there."
Or over it either.
There is one lane each way during the construction and not much more comfort when that is over in December. Closing the bridge is not an option since the closest alternate routes would be a 60 mile detour to Chesterfield or longer to Hermann for ten thousand cars a day.
According to the city and MoDOT, this fix buys 6 to 10 years to get the $60 million needed to build a new span across the Missouri River, which is on most people's wish list.
"A new bridge is one of our top priorities," says Stratman, "if not the top priority."
There is already $1.5 million being spent on design and study for a new bridge, but $60 million to build it is no where to be found. Not even in stimulus money will do, so a band aid will have to do for now.
