BURFORDVILLE BRIDGE RESTORATION ON TRACK FOR FUNDING NEXT YEAR

~Correction: Builder of bridge was Joseph Lansman.

BURFORDVILLE - The historic Burfordville bridge - one of only four covered bridges remaining in Missouri - is likely to receive funding in next year's state budget for a complete restoration.

The restoration could lead to the re-opening of the bridge for light vehicle traffic.

Gov. Mel Carnahan included $611,200 in his proposed Fiscal 1994 budget for the bridge restoration. The capital improvement funds would come to the Division of State Parks and Historic Preservation from the one-tenth of a cent sales tax for state parks and soil conservation.

The project is also a top priority of the parks division and a detailed engineering study of the bridge has already been completed.

"Since the governor has recommended it in his budget and it is a priority of the department, I would say things look real good," said Rep. David Schwab, R-Jackson, who has Burfordville in his district. "The design work has been completed, and as far as I know work could start fairly quick."

Rep. Jim Graham, R-Fredericktown, who serves on the House appropriations committee for natural and economic resources, said all signs indicate funding will be approved in this legislative session.

"With the governor putting it in his budget and the department calling it a priority, those are good indicators," said Graham. He added that since the project will come from the capital improvements committee, the House Budget Committee will not take up that bill until sometime in March.

Jack Smoot, site administrator for the covered bridge and Bollinger Mill Historic site for the last nine years, agreed the signs look good but stressed the process is far from over.

"Even though this is good news, we are still pressing for the funding," said Smoot. It's been a long time coming and we've worked a long time to get funding."

Schwab said the restoration of the bridge was one of the first projects he got involved with after becomeing a state representative in 1989.

"I have had over the years numerous people wanting the bridge to be re-opened," said Schwab. "I think many people just want the experience of driving over the bridge. And, this would certainly help tourism in our area."

The opportunity to re-open the bridge to vehicle traffic is a goal of the Department of Natural Resources, Smoot said, and the goal of the restoration effort is to do just that.

Smoot said a lot of people are attracted to the Burfordville historic site because of the bridge.

In the mid-1980s the bridge was closed to vehicles while some repair work was done, and then re-opened. After a record flood in May of 1986, the bridge was closed again after the water shifted the bridge slightly.

Then last year, while engineers were inspecting the bridge to determine what would be needed to restore it, a decision was made by engineers to close the bridge even to foot traffic.

One stone on the bridge abutment is dated 1858 and names James Lansmon as the builder, but Smoot said he is unsure whether it was completed at that time or finished after the Civil War.

The Bollinger Mill was burned in September of 1861 by Union troops who had a disagreement with the landowner. It was re-built just after the Civil War.

In 1967, the site became part of the state park system and in May of 1970 the covered bridge was placed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Smoot explained the restoration process will be carefully done so the bridge has as many original materials as possible. They also want to insure the bridge looks the way it does now, although it will be about three feet higher over Whitewater River to reduce the threat of future flood damage.

Smoot said they hope vehicles will be able to cross the bridge someday, but does not think a final decision will be made until contractors begin work.

"I think our original intent was to restore it to vehicular traffic if possible, but whether that will happen I don't know," said Smoot. "There has been some concern about being able to monitor traffic going over the bridge to make sure weight loads are upheld.

"Our primary concern and mission in the Missouri State park system is to preserve the cultural resources, but to also make those resources available for recreation. We would like to allow people to experience going across a covered bridge if at all possible."

Smoot explained the restoration process involves removing the bridge from its abutments, because much of the bridge that needs to be replaced are trusses that carry the weight of the bridge. Once the work is finished, the bridge will be placed back over the river.

"We are primarily interested in preserving the bridge, and if possible make it open for traffic," said Smoot. "Our priority is to re-use as much original material as possible ... the one unknown is that you never know what you will get into until you have disassembled the bridge."

Smoot thinks it will take about a year to complete the restoration if things go well. The funding is proposed in the budget year that begins July 1, which means it may be fall before a contract could be awarded.

All four covered bridges in Missouri are part of the state park system now, Smoot said. "We feel like all four structure are important cultural resources of the state," he observed.

Most of the covered bridges in the United States are on the east coast, and there is a national organization dedicated to preserving covered bridges around the world.

Before steel was used in building bridges, many bridges were covered with a roof and siding to protect the wooden trusses from deteriorating from changing weather conditions.