Bridge plan includes dozens in mid-Missouri

Mid-Missouri is home to more than two dozen bridges that would be repaired or replaced under a proposal made public this week.

Gov. Mike Parson announced during his State of the State speech Wednesday he wants to replace 250 bridges across the state. The state would use $351 million in bond fuding to pay for the program, which Parson said Wednesday would free up state and federal resources.

Parson said the plan would allow the Missouri Department of Transportation to accelerate its current list of infrastructure projects.

Missouri has 922 bridges MoDOT lists as being in poor condition and 60 percent of the state’s bridges are beyond their original intended life.

Of the bridges Parson wants to repair, 32 are within the ABC 17 News viewing area.

Parson said despite voters rejecting a fuel tax increase to pay for roads in November, something needs to be done with the state’s infrastructure.

“Over the years, we have seen proposals go before the voters and fail. But this cannot and does not mean we’re expected to do nothing,” Parson said.

MoDOT Director Patrick McKenna said the project would help the department gain trust from voters.

“What we’re going to have to do as a department is execute this plan, right?” McKenna said. “We have to show Missouri taxpayers that, when provided additional resources, we can follow the plan, we can identify the projects, we can accelerate it and get it done.”

He said the department was excited to get to work on the plan, calling it “manageable” and adding it would benefit all Missourians.