CARTHAGE, MO.--- After 93 years, the Sycamore Street Bridge in Carthage is no longer carrying traffic. The mayor, Public Works Department, and Missouri Department of Transportation inspected it earlier this week as part of MODOT's yearly inspections.
They found that portions of the bridge were cracked and some steel was rusted and deteriorated. The bridge had light traffic and there are two other bridges a block apart for drivers to use.
"You have to look at the costs of rebuilding it versus the benefit of it being open. The money that we spend on that one would be money that we wouldn't be able to spend on the other two which are also going to need work at some point," said Mike Harris, Carthage Mayor.
The mayor says they have two options, they can keep the bridge closed or replace it.
They found that portions of the bridge were cracked and some steel was rusted and deteriorated. The bridge had light traffic and there are two other bridges a block apart for drivers to use.
"You have to look at the costs of rebuilding it versus the benefit of it being open. The money that we spend on that one would be money that we wouldn't be able to spend on the other two which are also going to need work at some point," said Mike Harris, Carthage Mayor.
The mayor says they have two options, they can keep the bridge closed or replace it.
