Missouri’s Focus on Bridges program, initiated by Gov. Mike Parson, officially finished its first project last week, reopening a new Route 72 bridge after six months of work.
While the bridge is far from finished, one lane of traffic will now be able to cross it. Full completion is not expected until spring, under the current predictions of the contractor, Robertson Contractors. The Route 72 project consists of a new bridge being built alongside its forebear. One lane of traffic with temporary signals at each end was to be finished, under contract, by mid-December.
The bridge, which runs over Stouts Creek in Iron County, was selected as the first project due to its exceptionally poor condition. It was so bad the Missouri Department of Transportation did not want it carrying traffic in winter.
The Route 72 bridge is one of the six projects currently underway as part of the Focus on Bridges program. In all, it will repair or replace 250 of the state’s bridges in the poorest condition. A $50 million appropriation from general revenue got the program started, but federal grants and bonding revenue have helped grow it from there.