MARIES COUNTY - The Missouri Department of Transportation will hold an informational community briefing on Thursday, Oct. 1 from 4:30 - 6 p.m. to provide information about the upcoming replacement of the Mill Spring Creek Bridge on Route 42 in Maries County.  The improvements are being made as part of the Safe & Sound Bridge Improvement Program.

The community briefing will be held at the MoDOT Facility at 36017 Highway 28 East in Belle.  The public may attend the briefing at any time during the advertised hours to speak with MoDOT staff about the project.  For meeting information or accessibility information for the physically disabled, please call 1-888-ASK-MoDOT (275-6636) or TTY 1-800-735-2966 for the hearing impaired.

The bridge is located approximately four and a half miles from Route 28, between County Roads 317 and 319.  The bridge will close in mid-October and will remain closed for approximately 40 days.  Traffic will be detoured around the work area.

The Safe & Sound Bridge Improvement Program will improve 800 of Missouri's worst bridges in five years.  Ninety bridges will be replaced or repaired in the mid-Missouri area as part of this program.

For more information about this work or a complete listing of bridges included in the program, please call 1-888-ASK-MoDOT (275-6636) or log onto www.modot.org/central.