Bates County Route B Bridge Replacement Focus of August 11 Public Meeting in Rich Hill

Rich Hill -- A project to replace the deteriorating bridge on Bates County Route B over the Bates County Drainage Ditch Overflow approximately two miles east of Rich Hill will be the focus of a public meeting on Thursday, Aug. 11, the Missouri Department of Transportation said.

The come-and-go style meeting will be held 4:30 p.m. to 6 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 11, in the auditorium of Rich Hill R-IV High School, 703 N. 3rd Street in Rich Hill. NO FORMAL PRESENTATION IS PLANNED.

For those unable to attend the in-person meeting, an online public meeting will be available and it will go “live” on Thursday afternoon.

The plans for the project will be posted to the online meeting at www.modot.org/southwest.

The bridge, built in 1934, has experienced significant deterioration.

The Project :

The bridge will be replaced with a new structure.

During construction, Route B will be CLOSED. There will be no signed detour, but drivers will have access to Interstate 49, Missouri Route 52, Bates County Route N and local roads to travel around the work zone. However, drivers will NOT be able to cross the bridge during construction.

The estimated total cost of the project is $1.2 million. Construction is expected to begin in spring 2017 with completion in the fall of that year.