Bye Bye Riverside Inn

[RSBreth]

Demolition Begins This Week...

http://www.news-lead...beginning-today

After it's gone we will have to wait and see hat happens to the bridge. A nice shiny new one with two lanes would be awesome, but there are folks who can't let go of the past.

http://www.facebook....riversidebridge"

[Wayne SW/MO]

I hope they turn it into a nice park with access.

Does the bridge get that much traffic?

[RSBreth]

I hope they turn it into a nice park with access.

Does the bridge get that much traffic?

More than a thousand a day.

From KSPR33.COM

By Doug Magditch

(Ozark, Mo.) -- "I think people identify with that bridge," says Lisa Engel, the co-owner of Riverside Inn, which recently shut its doors. Next to the inn, a bridge by the same name.

The riverside bridge was originally a replacement bridge. It went up when the flood of 1909 washed out Ozark's original covered wagon bridge. Now, it's being considered for replacement

"It's definitely a deficient bridge," says John Grubaugh, the Christian County Presiding Commissioner.

The Missouri Department of Transportation rated the bridge a 2 out of 10, calling it "basically intolerable."

"The bridge has sustained a lot of damage by floods and traffic, and just being a hundred years old," says Grubaugh.

The bridge was originally built to hold horses and buggies, not the 1,300 vehicles per day it averages now.

"We just think it's strong and can handle anything, but it can't," says Engel.

"We would like a bridge that serves the public well and moves traffic well," says Grubaugh.

Full Story HERE

People are trying to save something that is inadequate and even unsafe, because it's "historic". I'm not someone who believes it's important for there to be "progress" just for progress sake, but plenty of people rely on that sad old thing every day, and one day it's just going to get washed away.

One lane bridge traffic circa 1950? Quaint.

One lane bridge traffic 2010? Pain in the @#&!!!!!

[Wayne SW/MO]

Thanks, I was curious because the few times I've been across it there was no traffic.

[rps]

To reach my house, in fact all of Holiday Island, the only way to avoid an old one lane bridge is if you arrive by water or air. The wooden suspension bridge by Beaver has its preservation group, but the other structure over a little creek is one only a mother could love. They are both pains.

[Wayne SW/MO]

That brings a smile to my face, how things change. I remember well when 7 highway had to Swinging bridges, one at the Grand river and long gone, and one at Warsaw which is preserved and open to foot traffic. We never thought anything about crossing them.

[Paola Cat]

I remember well when 7 highway had to Swinging bridges, one at the Grand river and long gone, and one at Warsaw which is preserved and open to foot traffic. We never thought anything about crossing them.

Now there's a trip down memory lane.

[RSBreth]

Video of the old building comin' down...

http://www.kspr.com/news/local/Riverside-Inn-Demolished-99142484.html

[atron]

I say build a new bridge adjacent to the old and keep the old up for foot/bike/fishing traffic.

[RSBreth]

I say build a new bridge adjacent to the old and keep the old up for foot/bike/fishing traffic.

There isn't much need for anything besides a new bridge for cars. Besides idiot "cyclists" on the narrow 2 lane roads on either side of the bridge, there isn't much besides cars passing along that way. Instead, how about a new bridge with a parking lot where Riverside was, and river access? That's my idea.