Earlier this month, a brand new bridge over the Osage River on Route 17 in Miller County, Mo., opened to traffic.
The project was the first in the nation to get under way as part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA), a.k.a. the stimulus, of 2009.
Since then, motorists driving across the new structure have now watch as construction crews work just 20 feet upstream to dismantle the old bridge that carried traffic since 1933.
As part of this work, crews will temporarily stop traffic crossing the river on Aug. 31 and set off a charge that will drop a portion of the depression-era structure to the water below, weather permitting.
Demolition of the old bridge may be viewed from the commuter parking lot located on the north end of the bridge at the intersection of Route 17 and Route 52.
Video footage will also be made available by the Missouri Department of Transportation.
APAC-Missouri, Inc. built the new bridge and is demolishing the old structure. The new bridge opened on Aug. 16 following a ribbon-cutting celebration.
