Historic bridge collapses into Osage River; counties wrestle with next move

What's left of the Schell City bridge over the Osage River collapsed last month and rests on the bottom of the Osage. The bridge, on what is locally known as River Road and formally called 2750 Road, was built in 1900 and connected Vernon and Bates counties. It was the quickest route between Schell City and Rockville. Now it's up to Bates County to remove the debris from the river; Vernon County Commissioners have offered help.

The historic Schell City bridge spanning the Osage River north of town collapsed into the river last month. Built in 1900, the bridge served as the closest route to Rockville, Mo., and the rest of Bates County for many decades.

The old, iron framed structure saw a lot of traffic in its life. Horses, wagons, automobiles and farm equipment all used the bridge on what was for years known as River Road. In later years, the road became County Road 2750, and traffic was curtailed.

As the structure weakened and the road worsened, the traffic got lighter. At times the road through the bottoms was covered with water for weeks or months. At other times the only way to get to the bridge was with a four-wheel drive vehicle. Then a barricade was welded to the top of the framing to keep big trucks and tall machinery from crossing. Those vehicles were just to heavy for the aging bridge.

It has been rumored that the bridge was dynamited, but it also is said to have just given out with old age. Who knows? The fact remains that the bridge is now in the Osage River and something must be done about that.

Even though the bridge connected the two counties, it belongs to Bates County, according to Vernon County Northern Commissioner Neal Gerster. "MoDOT's inventory put the bridge on Bates County's inventory," said Gerster. Bates County commissioner Randy Pike agreed that the bridge was theirs, but was not sure how that county was going to handle removal of the wreckage from the river.

"We want to pull it out of there," said Pike, "we were trying to figure out the best way to get it out of there and then it started raining."

Bates County does not have the equipment to get the several tons of twisted, rusted iron out of the water and up the steep banks, according to Pike.

Gerster said that Vernon County was willing "to do a joint project" with Bates County to get the scrap material out of the river channel. Vernon County has a crane that can lift the material up and out of the water. Gerster said, "We'll do it for half the steel."

Pike said that sounded like a sensible solution and the Bates County Commission is open to that idea.

In the meantime, the bridge is still in the river, and this week's rain may make it impossible to remove the debris for some time. Gerster said someone from the Missouri Department of Conservation called the commission last week and said the bridge was blocking the river and snagging season was getting ready to open. Last Wednesday, Robert Dains of Dains' Fish Farm near Taberville, Mo., said the bridge had the river effectively blocked.

The water level in the river was higher than usual during the week, but on Saturday, March 17, it was down to nearly normal flow. There was only a narrow chute along the south bank where a fishing boat could pass through, according to Rob Greenwood of Shawnee, Kan., who was on the river snagging for spoonbill. It will be some time before the situation is resolved.

This week's high water could pile logs and other debris against the bridge, or the pressure from such a buildup could push the old structure downstream. That, and the condition of the road leading to the bridge, could make removal more difficult as well.