(This article comes courtesy of MissouriNet.)
The Missouri Department of Transportation is planning to replace a 1950s era bridge over southern Missouri’s Bull Shoals Lake and the existing bridge is available for free. There is, however, a catch. If an entity such as a city wants it, that city will have to pay to move it. MoDOT Deputy Director and Chief Engineer Eric Schroeter admits this bridge, the 18-hundred foot Theodosia Bridge, is likely too big for a 2nd use. He says it’s camelback construction is unique and was all the rage in post WWII America as bridge builders tried to be efficient with limited steel supplies. He notes it also has historical significance because of its connection to Bull Shoals Lake.
From MoDOT’s website:
The Theodosia Bridge (K0817) is a 1951, riveted, ten-span bridge with a total length of 1,816 feet. The bridge is comprised of (from west to east) ten 181’ Camelback through truss spans. The bridge has concrete abutments, wingwalls and concrete column piers with web-walls. The deck is concrete with a bituminous surface.
The bridge is eligible for the National Register of Historic Places under criteria A and C for its significance in engineering for the multiple through truss configuration and for its association with the inundation of Bull Shoals Lake.
MoDOT’s Historic Preservation Section is now accepting proposals for the relocation and reuse of the bridge until January 9, 2026. A proposal checklist is available MoDOT’s Free Bridges website (http://www.modot.org/freebridges/). Preservation covenants may accompany the bridge.
MoDOT is also offering a smaller, 400 foot bridge. The Swam Creek Bridge in Taney County is also 1950s era construction. Schroeter says sometimes the smaller bridges end up in parks or on recreational trails. Missouri has nearly 25,000 bridges.
