Missouri Department of Transportation officials gave an update on Highway 136 bridge improvements, the Brownville Bridge, being completed under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.

Concrete Deck Work
Cramer & Associates has completed the concrete deck pours on the Missouri and Nebraska approach bridge sections. The latest concrete pour was completed May 27. The concrete was placed using a pump truck that was parked under the bridge. This allowed traffic to continue across the bridge as normal.
The contractor is currently preparing for the new concrete deck on the Missouri River truss span. They have completed more than half of the forming of the deck. They still have to perform steel repairs to the truss structure below the roadway before the new concrete can be placed. This is anticipated to take two to three weeks, weather permitting. The new concrete deck will be placed during a weekend closure in late June or early July. The bridge will be closed to traffic because the concrete will have to be unloaded on the existing roadway. The structure is too long over the river span to use pump trucks as on previous concrete pours.
Structural Steel Repairs to the Truss
The contractor has made various steel repairs to the truss over the Missouri River. There is a gusset plate where the bottom chord of the truss connects to the vertical and angled supports. The contractor will have to remove some rivets at the connection points, clean the pack rust on the steel and replace the rivets with new bolts. Rivets will be removed and replaced one at a time. They will perform similar repairs to top members of the truss as well as some angle steel pieces on the inside of the truss. Once all work is complete, the steel will be completely painted to prevent future pack rust forming.

Stage 1 Work Remaining
Cramer & Associates will have the following work to complete before switching traffic for Stage 2 construction:
1. Complete steel repairs to the truss below the roadway on the Missouri River span.
2. Pour the new concrete deck on the truss over the Missouri River.
3. Complete steel repairs to the truss above the roadway on the Missouri River span.
4. Complete work on each end of the bridge, including new concrete approach pavement.
5. Complete the new concrete barrier curb on the entire north side of the bridge.
6. Complete new navigational lighting for the Missouri River barge traffic.
7. Place new guardrail on the bridge approach shoulders.
Lane Switch in July or August
Some of the work will be performed simultaneously. It is anticipated that traffic will be switched to the new concrete pavement sometime in July or August.