Pedestrian path over Highway 47 bridge to open in May - and vid of old bridge demolition | warrencountyrecord.com

Headlines are quick hits from media outlets from Missouri and around the world. Follow the headline link for the full story. The source of this headline says:

Officials are anticipating a May opening of the shared use path on the new Highway 47 bridge, following the demolition of the old bridge.

Missouri Department of Transportation Area Engineer Judy Wagner said that’s when equipment will be cleared from the north side of the bridge.

“We have to construct the north connection under the new and old bridge,” she said. “We can’t open it until that is done.”

Wagner explained the pedestrian/bicycle path loops under the bridge on the north side where construction equipment is stored.

Link: 

Pedestrian path over Highway 47 bridge to open in May - and vid of old bridge demolition | warrencountyrecord.com

MoBikeFed comment: Creating safe access across the Missouri River for people who walk and bicycle has long been a priority of the Missouri Bicycle & Pedestrian Federation, MoDOT, and many local communities and advocacy groups along the river.

It is most important for the many communities along the Katy Trail--because the river often separates the trail from nearby communities.

In the past 15 years we have seen major bike/ped friendly bridges built in Kansas City (several!), Jefferson City, Hermann, St Louis/ St Charles County area (several!) and now, finally, the Highway 47 bridge at Washington.

This connection has been a long-standing priority of community leaders, and it is great to see the bike/ped connection between the city of Washington and the Katy Trail finally become a reality.

Oh--you'll definitely want to see the video of the bridge demolition. Especially if you ever rode across the 22-foot wide bridge on your bicycle!

http://www.emissourian.com/bridge/video-historic-highway-bridge-blown-up...