After nearly a year, US 40 in south Howard County is completely open to traffic. The Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT) on Friday announced the bridge over Bonne Femme Creek, a few miles southeast of New Franklin, opened to traffic, meaning that the entire roadway is passable for the first time since June of last year.

The 73-year-old bridge over Bonne Femme Creek was closed on March 14 so crews could replace the deck. According to MoDOT, the repairs will extend the life of the structure by 30 years. Approximately 2,100 vehicles cross the bridge daily.

While the bridge is open, only one lane will be passable as the contractor completes final work on the bridge this week. During weekday, daylight hours from May 29 through June 9, the roadway will be narrowed to one lane at the bridge and temporary traffic signals will be in place to guide traffic through the work zone, according to MoDOT.

The bridge was closed for work just as another bridge was opened. On June 6, 2022, crews began replacing the the U.S. 40 bridge over Salt Creek and the Katy Trail between New Franklin and the MO 240 intersection. It re-opened on March 14.

Both bridges were completed ahead of schedule. However, bridge work could not have taken place simultaneously because people living between the two bridges would have no avenue to their properties.

The bride opening is the third in recent weeks. The Highway 240 spur leading from Highway 40 in southeast Howard County into the town of Rocheport re-opened earlier this month as well. The road was closed in January so that the 60-year-old bridge over Moniteau Creek could be replaced.

And last fall, emergency repairs were made to the bridge over Salt Creek on MO 240, about four miles south of Fayette near what is locally referred to as the “Lucky Barn.”In October, inspectors noticed structural deterioration on the 90-year-old bridge. Crews re-opened the bridge on November 14 to the relief of the more than 2,000 daily commuters.