The Missouri Department of Transportation is preparing to give away one of its bridges next year. It's accepting proposals for the Little Niangua River Bridge on Route J in Camden County.
The bridge, which was built in 1933, is currently located about seven miles northeast of Macks Creek. It will be replaced with a new and wider bridge in 2018.
The bridge is considered historic because it is eligible for listing in the National Register of Historic Places as a significant example of a self-anchored suspension bridge.
Because of that eligibility, federal law requires any state proposing demolition of a historic bridge to first make it available for donation to a state, locality or responsible private entity. The bridge can be obtained by government entities, historical or civic groups, or private citizens, free of charge. The cost to remove the bridge or any of its parts is borne by the party obtaining the bridge.
Individuals and organizations interested in taking all or part of the bridge are invited to submit a proposal for reuse.
Proposals are due by Oct. 31, 2017. Details about the bridge, as well as information about reusing a bridge or making a reuse proposal, can be found on MoDOT's Free Bridges website at modot.org/freebridges/.