Smith Road Bridge Closed After Failing Inspection

The Smith Road bridge over Three Mile Creek in Crawford County has been closed indefinitely after failing a Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT) inspection. 

Structural concerns prompted the closure on Feb. 27, with officials citing multiple areas of severe rot in the deck planks, raising concerns about the bridge’s ability to support vehicle loads.

Further inspection revealed that brackets welded to the east abutment girder webs and bolted to the back wall in 2017 had deteriorated, with 10 out of 24 bolts failing. 

Due to these conditions, the bridge has been deemed unsafe for traffic and will remain closed until further notice.

Officials are currently developing a plan for temporary repairs to restore limited functionality to the structure. Meanwhile, a full replacement bridge is in the engineering phase, with construction expected to begin in the fall of 2025.

Crawford County District 2 Commissioner Jared Boast acknowledged the inconvenience caused by the closure but noted that the replacement project, which began planning last summer, should help reduce the overall downtime. 

The next scheduled inspection for the bridge is set for Feb. 27, 2026.