Missouri Department of Transportation

October 2005 to June 2007

$16,100,100

Twelve span, steel and pre-cast concrete, girder bridge. Built to mitigate damage from an earthquake and preserve the water quality of the scenic Current River in Van Buren Missouri.

• As a result of an assessment of the vulnerability of the state's transportation system in the event of a major earthquake, it was determined that US Highway 60 needed to be a four lane roadway across southern Missouri. The southeast portion of the state is heavily impacted by the New Madrid fault zone and a bridge collapse or an extended road closure of Highway 60 would have an enormous economic impact on the region. This is one of the several segments of construction to complete the four lane system.
• The work consisted of massive rock excavation and grading to construct six miles of two new traffic lanes. Also included was a 12 span combination steel and pre-cast concrete girder bridge across the current river in Van Buren, MO. The bridge deck was approximately 60 feet above the water surface.
• The bridge construction was particularly significant due to the fact that the Current River is part of the Ozark National Scenic Riverways and protection of the water quality was of utmost importance. Emery Sapp & Sons Inc submitted and received approval of a value engineering proposal to substitute drilled shaft footings for the bents instead of the conventional poured foundations which would have required cofferdams in the stream. Not only did this reduce the cost of the project but it also minimized the risk of stream contamination.
• Emery Sapp & Sons Inc worked with the state and local officials to accommodate the travel needs of the local residents as well as traffic on US Highway 60. The highway and bridge were completed and opened to traffic 5 months ahead of schedule.