Analysis shows major cost for repairing state bridges

There are 203 bridges that are more than 1,000 feet long in the state, and 53 of those span either the Missouri or Mississippi rivers. On average, the bridges are 33 years old and carry 21,000 vehicles per day. While they represent only 3 percent of the span-type bridges in the state, they account for 25 percent of the driving surface of all MoDOT bridges.

“These bridges are a major investment, and we need to do more to keep them in good shape,” Keith told the Missouri Highways and Transportation Commission Wednesday, according to a news release. “It would cost $7 billion to replace all of them. But with proper maintenance, many of these bridges can safely carry traffic for 100 years.”

MoDOT’s construction program for the next five years includes projects to improve 41 major bridges, but a MoDOT team has been analyzing major bridge needs since January and says an additional investment of $300 million to $500 million is needed to raise all major bridges to satisfactory condition.

The Safe and Sound Bridge Improvement Program, scheduled for award next month, will repair 802 of Missouri’s most worn-out bridges, including 40 in Greene County. Most of those are smaller structures, with average lengths of 150 feet.