TIME RUNNING OUT FOR TIMES BEACH BRIDGE

Another sad chapter may be written in the story of Times Beach, the Missouri town wiped off the face of the earth by disasters both natural and man made. Although the process is just beginning, the 1931 bridge that carried Route 66 across the Meramec River at Times Beach may be doomed. At the January 16 meeting, the Route 66 Association of Missouri heard from MODOT officials regarding the proposed demolition of the bridge that most recently linked the visitor’s center and museum with the rest of Route 66 State Park. It was closed on October 29, 2009.  Mike Harms, Assistant State Bridge Engineer for MODOT, told the meeting that he has never seen an issue attract more interest.

It appears a conscious decision was made several years earlier that may make it impossible to save the historic bridge. Karen Yeomans, P.E., Area Engineer for West St. Louis County, said that MODOT has been working for the past six years to identify a funding source to repair the bridge. The agency encouraged listing on the National Register of Historic Places to increase opportunities for Federal Funding, looked into the possibility of Scenic Byway funds and twice offered to turn maintenance of the bridge over to the Department of Natural Resources and State Parks.

However, a decision was made in 2007 to not spend limited MODOT resources on maintaining a bridge that does not link communities. That decision was made without consulting the public. Since then, the bridge has deteriorated rapidly. Yeomans pointed out that MODOT is responsible for over 10,000 bridges, many of which are in substandard condition, while the state budget woes continue. 

Efforts were made to extend the life of the bridge. The weight limit was decreased to 15 tons in 2005, ten tons in 2007, and five tons in the fall of 2009. It was restricted to one lane to keep loads in the middle of the span in 2007 and some repair work was done in 2006.

Harms detailed the problems with the bridge, including photos that showed entire sections of structural members eaten away by rust, buckled beams, deteriorating concrete and unsafe railings. He said not only could the bridge not be repaired at a reasonable cost, it can no longer even be inspected practically. According to Harms, the bridge can no longer support the weight of the “snooper” bucket trucks MODOT uses to perform inspections. Summing up, Harms said to save the bridge, crews “would almost have to take it apart and put it back together.” He also added that left as is, the bridge could collapse under its own weight in two or three years, making it unsafe even for pedestrian and bicycle traffic.

But the bridge has a passionate advocate in Jane Lee, Historic Preservationist for MODOT. She said it was her job to make sure MODOT follows requirements for demolishing a historic structure, informs the public and is held accountable for the decisions. According to Lee, the state must meet requirements of Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA) and perhaps the National Environmental Protection Policy Act. (NEPA) Under Section 106, if any federal money is used for demolition, MODOT must involve consulting parties and the public in the process. Individuals and organizations with legal, economic or preservation interest can apply for consulting party status. The Route 66 Association of Missouri is already at work on the application. A Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) would be developed with the consulting party to avoid, minimize or mitigate adverse affects of removal. The National Environmental Protection Policy Act ensures that the agencies consider the environmental effects of demolition and involve the public in that process as well.

Because of the closure, the visitor’s center and museum at Route 66 State Park has been left stranded on a dead end road. (Lewis Road, Exit 266) To enter the park, drivers on westbound Interstate 44 must continue to Route 109 (Exit 264) double back onto eastbound 44 and exit at Williams Road (Exit 265) to the South Outer Road. Eastbound traffic uses the Williams Road exit. Exiting the park onto westbound 44 also requires backtracking, entering eastbound 44 at Williams Road, exiting at Lewis Road and turning around at the interchange. One aspect of mitigation might be entrance and exit ramps to eliminate the detours.

Since funding for removal of the bridge is not in place, there is still time for the public to get involved. Lee and Yeomans suggested supporting the Route 66 Association of Missouri’s request for consulting party status and voicing concerns to the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation, the State Historic Preservation Office and MODOT. If the project falls under the jurisdiction of NEPA, Lee urged the crowd to attend public meetings and stay informed.   

The bridge is one of the last remnants of Times Beach, a community that began as a promotion by the old St. Louis Times newspaper in 1925. The paper offered a 20 by 100 foot lot for $67.50 with a subscription. Because of frequent flooding, many of the structures were built on stilts. In the 1970s, the town hired waste oil hauler Russell Bliss to spray oil on the dusty streets. After another disastrous flood in December 1982, residents learned the oil was tainted with dioxin. The federal government bought out the residents, demolished the buildings and burned the contaminated soil in a controversial incinerator. The cleaned up site is now Route 66 State Park. Harms, asked if dioxin could have hastened deterioration of the bridge, said any bridge that had been in service for 80 years would have problems. Lee provided a list of links and contact information for those interested in saving the landmark.

Joe Sonderman

LINKS AND CONTACT INFORMATION

· Citizen’s Guide to Section 106: http://www.achp.gov/citizensguide.pdf

· Citizen’s Guide to NEPA: http://ceq.hss.doe.gov/nepa/Citizens_Guide_Dec07.pdf

· MODOTs Environmental Studies and Historic Preservation page: http://www.modot.gov/ehp/index.htm

· Missouri State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) Section 106 Review page: http://dnr.mo.gov/shpo/sectionrev.htm

· 1-888-ASK-MODOT and comments@modot.mo.gov