The closure of the Chariton County Route D bridge over Clark Branch, located approximately 1 mile east of Missouri Route 5, has been delayed again due to equipment availability. Scheduled to close, Monday, April 24, the bridge is now expected to close on Monday, May 8.The Clark Branch Bridge, along with the East Fork of Bee Branch Bridge, located 0.5 miles west of Route 129 will be replaced under the Fixing Access to Rural Missouri (FARM) Bridge Program.

Both bridges were originally scheduled to close on Monday, April 10, but only the East Fork of Bee Branch Bridge was closed as planned. The East Fork of Bee Branch bridge is expected to remain closed though mid-September while the Clark Branch Bridge is anticipated to remain closed through early October.

There is no posted detour on most of these projects. The Clark Branch Bridge was built in 1938 and has a traffic volume of approximately 200 vehicles per day. The East Fork of Bee Branch Bridge was built in 1935 and has a traffic volume of approximately 150 vehicles per day.

The FARM Bridge Program will replace deficient bridges on low-volume routes that are:
· Weight-restricted
· In poor condition
· On timber pile
· One-lane but carry two-way traffic

The full list of bridges to be replaced can be found on the FARM Bridge program web page at FARM Bridge program web page.