Overpass disrepair concerns addressed by MoDOT

What was thought to be a sinkhole (pictured) is actually water-based erosion that will be addressed when the overpass is rehabbed this fall. MoDOT Senior Communications Specialist Dave Mitchell did not indicate any danger in driving over the bridge.

Photo by Gabe Franklin | Daily Mail

On Thursday, a concerned citizen contacted the Nevada Daily Mail in regard to what he described as a "sinkhole" under the Austin Boulevard railroad overpass.

"It’s not a sinkhole," Dave Mitchell said. "But rather water-based erosion that will be addressed when we rehab that bridge."

Mitchell is the Senior Communications Specialist for the Missouri Department of Transportation's Southwest District.

Mitchell explained that he had shared a photo sent to him by the Daily Mail with the district bridge engineer.

The photo shows the area under the east end of the overpass adjacent to the bridge abutment. Concrete slabs several inches thick line the earthen slope under the bridge.

According to MoDOT's Engineering Policy Guide - available online at epg.modot.org - 611.3.4.1; the purpose of the concrete slope under the east end of the Austin Boulevard railroad overpass is "To prevent erosion around wings and under abutments by maintaining adequate drainage away from the ends of the bridge."

The hole shown in the accompanying photograph has been previously photographed by the Daily Mail before and does appear to be larger than before.

Mitchell did not indicate any danger in driving over the bridge.

The bridge is a slab-on-stringer type and is due to be rehabbed this fall.

According to Mitchell, MoDOT is waiting on paperwork from Missouri and Northern Arkansas Railroad and Union Pacific Railroad, although work is expected to begin in August. The bridge will be reduced to one lane each direction so that work can be completed on half of the bridge before the lanes are readjusted and the other side repaired.

If you have any concerns about the infrastructure in Nevada or Vernon County — roads, bridges, utilities, etc. — e-mail Gabe Franklin at gfranklin@nevadadailymail.com.