Major Milestone: First Kaysinger Bridge Complete

The Emery Sapp & Sons (ESS) Heavy Highway crew has officially delivered the first of 20 planned bridges in the Kaysinger Basin Bridge Bundle — a milestone worth celebrating.  

After months of tight schedules, long days, and solid teamwork, the Route 97 Bridge over Horse Creek in Cedar County is now open to traffic. This marks the beginning of the massive effort to rehabilitate aging infrastructure across southwest Missouri. 

The crew shut down the bridge in August and went to work fast, fully demolishing and rebuilding the 70-year-old structure. Today it stands wider and stronger, built to stand the test of time. 

A Critical Fix Delivered the Right Way 

The Horse Creek Bridge was widened by four feet, allowing for two 10-foot lanes and two-foot shoulders. Crews also installed upgraded barriers, guardrails, and permanent striping — delivering a significant improvement to safety and drivability. 

Most of the bridges in this project have been carrying Missouri drivers for close to a century, earning their retirement. 

“The bridges in this bundle were in critical condition,” said Troy Pinkerton, ESS Project Manager. “This is a safety improvement — first and foremost.” 

Proud of the Progress and People Behind It 

This milestone reflects the hard work, coordination, and commitment of the teams and partners involved, and the community has noticed the momentum. With rural routes, closures can be tough, but not for this team. 

“The local community can easily get around while the road is closed, and they all seem pleased. They generally feel like our progress was pretty quick,” said Pinkerton. 

Keeping the Momentum Moving 

Horse Creek marks the start of the $38 million design-build initiative being delivered across seven counties, and the team isn’t slowing down. Work continues across the region, juggling up to five active bridge jobsites at once. Balancing quality, safety, and schedule, the team is pushing hard to keep the project on schedule. Once complete, the 20 rehabilitated structures will improve safety, reliability, and connectivity across southwest Missouri.  

This is more than a milestone — it’s proof of what our people can accomplish. And it’s only the beginning.