Bridge Project To Close Route 142 Near Naylor Starting May 26

Thursday, May 14, 2020
The Little Black River bridge along Route 142 north of Naylor was constructed in 1949. Construction of a new bridge is set to begin May 26.
Ron Smith

A few months of taking detours should pay off later this summer for those who travel Missouri Route 142 in southeastern Ripley County.

A construction project to replace the 70-year-old bridge over Little Black River, about 1-1/2 miles north of Naylor, is set to begin May 26.

The highway will be closed throughout the construction project, which is scheduled to be completed in mid-August, according to MoDOT officials.

The highway detour will follow Route N south to Route KK and continue west on Route H, rejoining 142 at the curve south of Naylor. The work zone and detour route will be marked with signs. Motorists are urged to use extreme caution while traveling near the area.

Estimated cost of the project is about $800,000.

When the new bridge opens, travelers will find a wider bridge with wider approaches. The current bridge is 18-feet wide with a speed limit of 15 mph for vehicles weighing more than 15 tons.

According to the website www.bridgehunter.com, the current bridge was constructed in 1949. The bridge trusses date back to 1922. Originally a part of the Route 25 bridge over the Castor River in Bollinger County, the trusses were moved to Naylor when work began on the Little Black River bridge.

The work zone will be marked with signs. Motorists are urged to use extreme caution while traveling near the area.

For additional information, please contact Resident Engineer Donald Hills at (573) 840-9781, MoDOT’s Customer Service Center toll-free at 1-888-ASK-MODOT or visit www.modot.org/southeast.

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