Willow Springs, Mo. - Residents who live near the bridge over the Meramec River on Route M in Crawford County, as well as other interested parties, are encouraged to attend a Safe & Sound Community Briefing hosted by the Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT). The meeting will be held Tuesday, Dec. 9 from 4 to 5:30 p.m. at the Steelville Community Building.

The bridge has been identified as one among 802 across the state with critical improvement needs. These 802 bridges will be repaired or replaced through the MoDOT Safe & Sound bridge improvement program within five years. The first 100 bridges, including the Route M structure, will be under construction by spring 2009.

According to MoDOT Bridge Engineer Ed Hess, the community briefing is being held to educate the public regarding the Safe & Sound program and what they can expect once the bridge comes under construction. "The Route M bridge over the Meramec River will be temporarily closed for two months during construction to replace the bridge deck," Hess said. "MoDOT is sensitive to the impact that will be felt by those who travel Route M during the closure. We have already been in touch with many key stakeholders to discuss school bus routes, emergency response and more. We look forward to the community briefings as an opportunity to share the results of those discussions and inform the public of what they can expect."

A web page has been developed to house the latest information regarding the Safe & Sound program. To view this information, visit www.modot.org/southcentral and click on the Safe & Sound 800 Better Bridges icon. A complete listing of all bridges included in the program as well as a map that can help traffic navigate around closures are among the resources available.

For additional information regarding the Safe & Sound program or other transportation-related topics, call the MoDOT Customer Service Center, toll-free, at 1-888-ASK MoDOT (275-6636). Customers also may email the center at d9csc@modot.mo.gov.

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