The first Missouri River bridge for Missouri 19 (right) was completed in August 1930. Seventy-seven years later, its replacement (left) went into service in July 2007, with a dedication ceremony on October 12, 2007.
Full completion of the $34 million project is scheduled for December 2007. The bridge is named after longtime senator and former governor Christopher Bond, who also participated in the groundbreaking ceremony for the bridge on September 23, 2005.
According to the dedication ceremony's program, the bridge was partially financed by a local transportation corporation with the intent of repaying construction bonds with bridge tolls. However, the transportation corporation subsequently decided to seek federal funding, after a study concluded that a toll bridge would not be feasible for legal and financial reasons. In the end, congressional earmarks paid for 60% of the bridge's cost with the rest paid by the Missouri Department of Transportation.
The old bridge is scheduled for demolition, but for a time in 2007, both bridges still existed side-by-side. A small section of the old bridge had already been removed on the south side to allow the new bridge to connect with the intersection with Missouri 100 at Market Street.
More photos of the Missouri River bridge at Hermann (September and October 2007)
- Approaching Hermann from the north on Missouri 19
- Afternoon view of the old Missouri River bridge, center of the bridge
- Closeup profile of the new Missouri River bridge
- Crane at the Missouri River bridge
- Weight limits for the old Missouri River bridge
- Old and new Missouri River bridges side-by-side
- South approach of the new Missouri River bridge
- Walkway of the new Missouri River bridge
- North end of the old Missouri River bridge, seen from the east, hiding the new bridge
- North end of the old Missouri River bridge, seen from the west, also showing the new bridge
- The old Missouri River bridge, view from the riverbank
- The south end of the old Missouri River bridge, already clipped off, profile view
- The south end of the old Missouri River bridge, already clipped off, end view
- The north end of the Missouri River bridge, showing the approach on Missouri 19
- South end of Missouri River bridge, shown in profile
- The south end of the new Missouri River bridge
- South end of the new and old Missouri River bridges, afternoon view
- View of the riverbank and the north end of the Missouri River bridge
Mark RobertsDenver, Colorado
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