March 30, 2009
More Information: David Wrone at 314-615-8173

A decaying bridge will keep Weidman Road closed for at least a month six-tenths of a mile south of Clayton Road in unincorporated St. Louis County.

St. Louis County Highways and Traffic officials closed the 65-year-old stone bridge at 1 p.m. Sunday (March 29, 2009). Engineers monitored the structure every day after discovering damage to its abutment earlier in the month. However, heavy rains and snow melt over the weekend exacerbated pre-existing erosion problems around the bridge, and caused a considerable chunk of its western wall to collapse into the muddy creek water below sometime between Saturday and Sunday morning.  

“Erosion had begun to devour the road pavement itself, and posed safety risks that were simply unacceptable,” explained David Wrone, Highways and Traffic’s public information manager.

The bridge has shouldered its last set of car tires. On Sunday, County personnel installed barricades on either end of the structure to prevent motor vehicle traffic from crossing. Work crews will soon begin demolition and construction work.

Officials expect a new culvert bridge to be in place within two months – and much sooner, if weather cooperates.

“If we get heavy rains, the work won’t proceed as quickly as if it’s relatively dry,” Wrone said.  “Best case scenario, the old bridge will be gone and a new one in its place and carrying traffic in 30 days.”

During the closure, motorists will have to use either Highway 141 or Mason Road – both of which, like Weidman Road, serve as north-south connectors between Clayton Road and Manchester Road.