Earlier this month, a brand new bridge over the Osage River on Route 17 in Miller County, MO opened to traffic. Motorists driving across the new structure 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.

If the weather permits, traffic will be stopped for a short duration around 8:30 a.m. and be held until after the blast. This temporary closure is expected to last about 15 to 20 minutes. Motorists should seek alternate routes during this time.

Those who wish to view the demolition of the old bridge can do so from the safe distance of the commuter parking lot located on the north end of the bridge at the intersection of Route 17 and Route 52. The bridge demolition can also be seen from the lawn of the old courthouse on Bluff Street in Tuscumbia.

APAC-Missouri, Inc. built the new bridge and is demolishing the old structure. The project was the first in the nation to get underway as part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. The new bridge opened on Aug. 16 following a ribbon-cutting celebration.