Missouri flash flooding destroys one bridge, spares another
Monday, July 28, 2008
The Columbia Bridge in Monroe County, Missouri, was wiped out by flash flooding on Saturday. This was a riveted through truss over Elk Fork of the Salt River.
Meanwhile, the same river threatened the Union Covered Bridge, only one of four authentic covered bridges remaining in Missouri. However, according to Charles Havens, volunteers were able to save the bridge by taking off the wood siding, allowing water to flow over and through the bridge, but without pushing it into the river.
Recent rainfall over portions of northern Missouri has been intense, possibly even record-setting, so I wouldn't be surprised if other bridges were damaged by flash floods.
In related news, we now know the final tally of railroad bridges destroyed by last month's Iowa floods: 17.