Price to refurb Katy Bridge at Boonville comes in at $1 million

The Boonville Daily News is reporting that the price tag for refurbishing the Katy Bridge at Boonville for trail use is coming in just about as predicted:

"It appears from this bid that Allstate Engineer's estimate for conversion was accurate," said Shannon. The Columbia-based engineering firm previously provided conversion estimates in the range $1 million.

Shannon added the steering committee is confident the engineer's estimate was realistic. "We're prepared to move forward with our numbers once the court issues have been resolved," she said.

Allstate anticipates other bids will be received in the near future.

The group's efforts to keep the bridge at Boonville received another major boost last week with a legal filing by Pat Jones, widow of investment company founder Edward “Ted” Jones, who with her husband donated $2.2 million to help with state efforts to establish the Katy Trail.

Jones weighed in with concern regarding Union Pacific's proposed dismantling of the bridge, citing the federal “rails-to-trails” act of 1987 as integral not only to the popular recreation trail but also to national security.

Additional support has come from a mix of municipalities, biking and environmental groups who fear for the loss of the trail if the Boonville bridge is dismantled.

More on the entry of Pat Jones into the Katy Trail lawsuit.

The Missouri Bicycle Federation has also weighed in on the lawsuit.

More about the reason creating a break in the rail corridor undermines the legal status of the entire trail that is built on the rail corridor.