Jefferson City Public Works to discuss options for High Street viaduct

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (KMIZ)

The Jefferson City Public Works Committee is set to meet Thursday morning to discuss options regarding the aging High Street viaduct.

In February, the Public Works department shut down the viaduct after what was initially reported as a pothole turned out to be a significant structural issue. The damaged area has since been covered with a steel plate.

In Thursday's meeting, the committee will go over options for reopening and fixing the viaduct. The city can reopen the bridge and cover the hole with a steel plate or keep the bridge closed. Repairing the bridge would cost around $34,400.

The committee will also discuss options to protect pedestrians and traffic underneath the viaduct if the city decides to reopen it. Those options include:

• Regularly knocking loose concrete off
• Place canopies under the bridge to catch falling concrete
• Attach falsework, netting or steel mesh to the bridge to catch falling concrete.

The Public Works Committee recommends that a full-depth repair be made to the viaduct. However, the bridge can be reopened as long as regular inspections and spot repairs are done until the full-depth repair can be made.

To fully replace the viaduct, it would cost the city around $17 million.