Warsaw Upper Bridge

This bridge has been reopened to foot traffic on July 1, 2007. The city of Warsaw got a grant to redo the historic bridge. The new deck is complete. They are hoping to get it painted and lights put back on the bridge. There are also plans on tying in a walking path from Drake Harbor to the bridge.

I used to live in Warsaw and have been over that bridge many times. Also, years after I left Warsaw, a buddy of mine and I were driving to Warsaw to visit my grandmother, and if we hadn't changed our route, we would have driven over that bridge the night the grain truck went through.

I've walked accross this bridge many times. Ever since I was a little kid I can remember going to Warsaw and walking over this bridge. My parents and grandparents have driven over this bridge many times.

Right now the bridge is closed to even pedestrian traffic for some unknown reason. The city is supposed to maintain the bridge for pedestrian use as a historical marker. It has been closed for over a year now. The city needs to do its job and maintain the bridge in decent condition for public use. It would be a huge mistake to let the last swinging bridge in Warsaw be destoyed by neglect.

The bridge is very impressive spanning over Lake of the Ozarks. It also looks very good for its age and so little maintance done recently. If you haven't seen this bridge and you like swinging bridges go see it.

Up until I was six years old, I crossed this bridge on the way to visit my grandparents. My mom absolutely hated this bridge! I remember seeing the vehicles in front of us bobbing up down slightly as we crossed. I thought it was pretty cool at the time!

Although Joe Dice is credited with building this bridge (and it's predecessor), he didn't start the construction. He only finished it.

From what I've read, the Kansas City Bridge Company subbed it out. The workers had erected the east tower and were in the process of erecting the west tower. However, they got caught trying to erect it without going down to the bedrock. I believe a Kansas City Bridge executive and the company's lawyer had to travel to Warsaw. The city fathers basically told them to give up the blueprints. They refused and left town. The county sheriff tracked them down, held them at gunpoint and forced them to give up the blueprints! Joe Dice was called to finish the construction.

During the time it was open to traffic, $100,000 was spent on it's upkeep and repair. Including about $40,000 spent on major repairs in 1975 after an overloaded grain truck went through and took out about one-fifth of the deck. A few thousand dollars were also spent on traffic lights for both ends of the bridge.