MO State Parks: Salt Creek Bridge near Rocheport on the Katy Trail now open - closed for nearly 3 years

Missouri State Parks has done a great job getting the Katy Trail back in shape after the devastating floods of 2019.  One of the last remaining pieces is the replacement of the Salt Creek Bridge, about halfway between Rocheport and Boonville.  

The bridge was completely lifted off its abutments and washed some distance

The Salt Creek Bridge near New Franklin was washed right off its abutments during the 2019 Missouri River floods

Now the Salt Creek Bridge has been replaced with a brand new one - and it is open and ready for use:

JEFFERSON CITY, MO, MAY 6, 2022 – Missouri State Parks held a ribbon-cutting today to reopen the Salt Creek Bridge on the Katy Trail. In 2019, the bridge was washed off its pilings during a severe flood of the Missouri River. This section of the trail has been closed to visitors since and caused an inconvenient detour for trail users.

“Last year, the Katy Trail welcomed nearly 700,000 visitors. This bridge is a critical asset as it connects the popular destinations of Boonville and Rocheport,” said Dru Buntin, director of the Missouri Department of Natural Resources. “This project is just one of many that reflects our ongoing statewide efforts of maintenance and repair.”

The old bridge was a 14-span timber bridge that was set on timber pile bents and was 193 feet long and 12 feet wide. The new bridge is a single-span bridge, 151 feet long with abutments and a 12-foot wide concrete deck riding surface rated for a capacity of 20 tons.

“We’re not only excited to once again connect the Katy Trail, but we’re also happy to announce Mera Excavating, LLC, of Bonnots Mill, who did the work on the bridge, came in under budget and ahead of schedule,” Buntin said.

The bridge is located at the 181.4 MM of the Katy Trail, approximately 2.7 miles northwest of Rocheport.

For more information on Missouri state parks and historic sites, or to view the Park and Site Status Map, visit mostateparks.com. Missouri State Parks is a division of the Missouri Department of Natural Resources.

Remember that MoBikeFed mapped out an amazing, scenic detour around this bridge outage. With the bridge repaired, you won't need to use the detour.  But it is still just as historic and scenic as before.  The route follows the old Boonslick Road from Columbia to Rocheport, New Franklin, Boonville, and Boons Lick State Historic Site.

In combination with the Katy Trail, several loop routes are possible - the basis for a great day, or weekend, or even 3-4 days of beautiful riding and exploring in central Missouri:

• Katy Trail Salt Creek Bridge Outage Detour Route
• Complete Old Boonslick & Santa Fe Trail Route (Columbia-Boone's Lick-Boonville, out-and-back or loop):
  • Old Boonslick & Santa Fe Trail Route at RideWithGPS (48 miles each way)
  • Old Boonslick, Santa Fe, & Katy Trails Loop Tour (95 miles Columbia-Boone's Lick-Boonville-Columbia)

One of the top goals of MoBikeFed's Vision for Bicycling and Walking in Missouri is building a world-class bicycle and pedestrian transportation system in Missouri.  Supporting state agencies like Missouri State Parks who build and maintain world-class facilities like the Katy Trail, and helping develop and promote routes that augment existing trails, like the Old Boonslick Road Loop, are two ways we work to achieve that goal.

Your membership and generous financial contributions help turn our Vision into reality--building the statewide public support for bicycling, walking, and trails that make major advances like the Rock Island Trail possible.