Time to save the closed Gasconade River Bridge near Hazelgreen, Missouri, from demolition is running out, as a contract to raze the historic Route 66 span may be awarded by mid-2020. Gary Sosniecki of the Lebanon-Laclede County Route 66 Society wrote that no progress was made this week during one of several "last-ditch" efforts to … Continue reading Time is running out to save Gasconade River Bridge
Category: Bridges
Road crews destroy Horse Creek Bridge in Afton despite local opposition
Work crews for the Oklahoma Department of Transportation apparently destroyed the historic Horse Creek Bridge in Afton in recent days despite substantial opposition from residents and preservationists. A reader of Route 66 News in Oklahoma passed along a friend's photos of the razed bridge. The image was taken from a recently constructed temporary bypass bridge. … Continue reading Road crews destroy Horse Creek Bridge in Afton despite local opposition
Springfield utility makes quick work of covering graffiti on Chatham Road Bridge
City Water, Light and Power crews of Springfield, Illinois, wasted little time in covering over graffiti on the Chatham Road Bridge that once carried Route 66. WICS-TV in Springfield posted a report this week about the vandalism: A viewer sent us the photos of the vandalism before CWLP was able to paint over it.Painted on the … Continue reading Springfield utility makes quick work of covering graffiti on Chatham Road Bridge
Replica of toll building proposed for Old Chain of Rocks Bridge in St. Louis
One of several redevelopment proposals for the west side of the Old Chain of Rocks Bridge in St. Louis contains a replica of the long-gone toll house that stood on that site. The Great Rivers Greenway, which controls the bridge as a vital link over the Mississippi River to a series of pedestrian and cycling … Continue reading Replica of toll building proposed for Old Chain of Rocks Bridge in St. Louis
Lake Overholser Bridge in OKC closed to traffic after problem found
The Lake Overholser Bridge in Oklahoma City recently was closed to vehicular traffic after an inspector found a problem in the historic Route 66 span. Longtime Route 66 advocate Kathy Anderson posted this message on Facebook from Melvena Heisch, a recently retired Oklahoma State Historic Preservation Officer: All, just heard back from the City Planning … Continue reading Lake Overholser Bridge in OKC closed to traffic after problem found
What’s being planned for the Pony Bridge near Bridgeport?
I recently received a news release from Route 66 The Road Ahead Partnership about how a historic preservation specialist on behalf of the organization weighed in on several proposals for the William H. Murray Bridge, aka Pony Bridge, near Bridgeport, Oklahoma. That led me to ask: What exactly are the proposals for the Pony Bridge? … Continue reading What’s being planned for the Pony Bridge near Bridgeport?
Cost to revamp 11th Street Bridge in Tulsa estimated at $26.6 million
The Tulsa Route 66 Commission wanted an updated estimate on repurposing the historic but long-closed 11th Street Bridge, and it got it -- it would be at least $26.6 million. The commission wants to reuse the bridge as a venue for events and tourism. The new cost estimate is an update from a similar plan … Continue reading Cost to revamp 11th Street Bridge in Tulsa estimated at $26.6 million
New Gasconade River Bridge reconnects Route 66 in region
The Missouri Department of Transportation on Friday opened the new, $4 million Gasconade River Bridge near Hazelgreen, thus reconnecting "eight or nine miles" of Route 66 interrupted when the old bridge was closed in late 2014. The old and still-closed Gasconade River Bridge can be seen in the upper right. Meanwhile, the president of the … Continue reading New Gasconade River Bridge reconnects Route 66 in region
New Muffler Man named Frecs erected on old Route 66 in Galena
A new Muffler Man -- a 19-foot-tall miner named Frecs -- recently was erected on old Route 66 in Galena, Kansas. The Muffler Man isn't 100 percent done. He still needs touch-ups after a weld broke on his supporting frame, and his boots needed to be finished. Regardless, it stands just west of the historic … Continue reading New Muffler Man named Frecs erected on old Route 66 in Galena
Gasconade River Bridge rehab costs estimated at $2.5 million
An engineering firm estimated it would cost at least $2.5 million to rehabilitate the closed Gasconade River Bridge near Hazelgreen, Missouri. Sparks Engineering of San Antonio issued a 16-page structural evaluation of the historic Route 66 bridge, which has been closed since December 2014. The Missouri Department of Transportation has stated it would tear down … Continue reading Gasconade River Bridge rehab costs estimated at $2.5 million