BRIDGE TO BE REPLACED

MILLERSVILLE -- The scene is picturesque. Travelers on County Road 351 drive through a canopy of trees to an 88-year-old bridge that crosses the Little Whitewater River.

But the historic span in Cape Girardeau County is slated to be dismantled when a new bridge is built across the river later this year.

"It's one of those things," said Judy Wilferth, who owns a farm in the area. "It's considered an attractive nuisance. We understand why the bridge must go, but it's such a wonderful part of history. It just tugs at your heart strings to see something like this torn down."

Cape Girardeau County Commissioners said they would consider alternatives to removing the bridge, but none have surfaced.

"With the huge trees that are like a canopy and the bridge, it's like a little park," said Gerald Jones, presiding commissioner. "Maybe a historical society or someone has an idea."

Otherwise the county will have no choice but to dismantle the old bridge. Bids are being prepared for the new bridge. The new span won't be in place for several months.

The biggest stumbling block is liability insurance for the old bridge.

"It's so pretty at different times of years when going through that grove of trees," said Janet Miller, who also lives in the area. "We had hoped to save the bridge.

"But it's a liability issue. They tell us the bridge needs to be replaced, and we know the county can't keep insurance on both bridges," Miller said. "In this age of liability, there's no way to ask an individual to assume that risk."

The "pony truss" bridge is 12 feet wide and 125 feet long. It has a wooden plank deck and steel trusses, and county records show is was constructed around 1910.

Scott Bechtold with the County Highway Department said the old bridge is narrow and the load limit is inadequate for modern trucking or farm equipment. The limit is just 6 tons. A safe minimum is 10 tons or more.

The bridge is being replaced using federal highway improvement money.

Bechtold said three to four bridges in the County are replaced each year. Bridges are set for replacement based on weight limit, width and safety factors.

Some consolation to neighbors is the fact that when designing the new bridge, planners placed it so the fewest trees will be cut.

"We're disappointed that it has to be this way, but we understand," Miller said. "It looks like we lost the bridge and gained the trees."