The historic Oak Street Bridge that carries Route 66 in Carthage, Missouri, badly needs repairs and may have to close within a year if it fails a state inspection.
The bridge is also known as the Whee Bridge or Tickle Tummy Hill because of its steep apex.
The Joplin Globe reported:
Carthage Public Works Director Zeb Carney told the Carthage City Council’s Public Works Committee this month that the bridge is in serious need of repair work and probably has only one year left before it will be closed by MoDOT inspectors.
Carthage City Council member Jana Schramm reported to the council Feb. 11 that Carney estimated the bridge could cost $1.8 million to replace and the city would likely have to pay for it.
Carney said the city is working on preliminary plans to replace the bridge, which was built in 1920, but nothing has been approved by the council and the railroad would have to approve any plans and changes.
The state’s report on its inspection of the bridge should be known as soon as next month.
The possible closure of the bridge next year would be ill-timed — during Route 66’s centennial.
The city a few years ago tried to force the railroad to repair the bridge, but that effort failed in court. Ultimately, the railroad owns the bridge and is not interested in maintaining it.
(Image of the Oak Street Bridge, aka Whee Bridge, in Carthage, Missouri, courtesy of Rod Harsh)