105th Street Bridge

In Missouri, a lot of these small truss bridges -- especially the bedsteads -- are replaced without using any federal funds, so Section 106 doesn't matter. A popular choice is to build a bridge on top of an old railcar chassis. Low-budget pipe culverts are also common.

In fairness, Daviess County does still have quite a few historic bridges remaining. The county to the south, Caldwell, has done an excellent job of historic preservation. They generally try to build replacement bridges on a new alignment and leave the old bridge in place, or move it somewhere else. Caldwell County has saved a bowstring, a Whipple truss, two King Bridge Co. through trusses, an early Canton Bridge Co. bedstead, and more.

I have to agree more with Nathan's assessment on the county not having to deal with Section 106. If it was a state other than Missouri (except Pennsylvania, of course), then and only then would I suspect complete moronic-ness on the part of the driver. Given Missouri's track record on historic bridge preservation, it would not surprise me in the least.

Nathan, I agree with you 100%. You hear of this kind of ignorance way too often. It’s hard to believe that there are that many stupid people driving big trucks, but facts don’t lie. I also wouldn’t doubt your theory that it might have been done of purpose, it would seem like an extreme measure to take, but considering the stupidity of most county officials I’m sure they thought it would weaken the bridge rather that collapse it.

This happens so often I think change is needed. I think that anyone given a truck driver's license should be able to read road signs. This apparently is not currently a requirement since so many truck drivers are apparently incapable of reading even simple numbers. How did they ever pass kindergarten?

This bridge was collapsed by a truck spreading gravel for the county. The empty truck weighed 31,000 pounds (15.5 tons). Who knows how much it weighed half full of gravel? Either way, this idiot drove his 15.5 ton truck over a rare bedstead truss bridge posted for 5 tons and collapsed this extremely significant bridge.

There is another possibility however. The bridge was collapsed by a truck doing road work for the county. This is a county-owned historic bridge. Now that the bridge is collapsed, the county can replace this bridge without having to bother with Section 106. Coincidence?