The Long Creek arm of Table Rock Lake was the place to be for excitement on Monday morning, March 17, as MoDOT crews continued the demolition work on the Long Creek Bridge, part of State Hwy. 86 south of Branson.
Construction on a new, wider bridge, adjacent to the old one, started in 2022. It was opened to traffic in 2024, and the project is expected to be completed during summer 2025. More than 8,000 drivers cross the bridge daily, as residents of nearby neighborhoods commute to work via Hwy. 86 and U.S. Hwy. 65 and Big Cedar Lodge guests travel to Dogwood Canyon.
The old bridge was constructed by MoDOT in 1956 to connect Stone and Taney counties. In 2019, repairs were made to the structural steel, but those were a temporary fix, with permanent repairs deemed by MoDOT as not possible due to the continued deterioration of the system.
For Monday’s demolition, residents of nearby neighborhoods watched from land, some even turning the event into a neighborhood party complete with refreshments and custom T-shirts, and at least 50 boats made the cruise to watch the explosion from the water. There were a few reports of distress on the part of neighborhood pets, and a few questions via social media from people who missed the MoDOT announcement and wondered what was going on.
Those who have been around for a while expressed nostalgia at the end of an era, but most agreed the wider bridge will be a blessing for larger vehicles and pedestrian safety.
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