User:Fredddie/Boonslick Bridge

The Boonslick Bridge is a series of girder bridges on U.S. Route 40, Route 5, and Route 87 across the Missouri River between Cooper County, Missouri and Howard County, Missouri at Boonville, Missouri. It is named for Nathan Boone (rather than his father Daniel Boone which is popularly reported), who built a road between St. Louis, Missouri and a salt lick northwest of the bridge, which was the first departure location on the Santa Fe Trail.

The bridge also has a segregated pedestrian and bicycle path. The Katy Trail State Park diverts from its railbed alignment to cross the Missouri River on this bridge, as the nearby MKT Bridge is unrenovated. The bridge, which opened in 1995, replaced a six-span truss bridge built in 1924 that was 19 ft wide. The earlier bridge was 2100 ft long with a 584 ft approach in Cooper County and 500 ft approach in Howard County. Three of its spans were 420 ft and three were 280 ft.

Original bridge
Prior to the Boonville Bridge, the crossing at Jefferson City was only highway bridge that crossed the Missouri River between Kansas City and St. Charles. People who wished to cross the river at intermediate locations relied on ferries, which only ran when the conditions were ideal.

The Boonville Bridge was the first toll-free vehicular bridge to cross the Missouri River.

It was to be 2102 x truss bridge with creosoted timber decking and a bituminous surface. The City of Boonville was to build a 564 ft approach on the southern bank. On the opposite bank there was to be a 440 ft earthen approach. Construction was estimated to cost $550,000, half of which was to be paid by the state government.

One worker was killed during construction after he fell 60 ft from the first span into the river below.

Dates
 * Contracted 1922
 * Opened Late May-Early June 1924
 * Had wooden deck, lasted 15 years
 * Wooden deck replaced with metal grate
 * Wanted replace with concrete, but would have put too much stress on bridge
 * Dedicated July 4, 1924