Republican-Clipper photo
A thin blanket of snow covers the Big Creek Bridge in West Bethany and the Bethany Falls, located downstream from the bridge. Final studies are underway for replacing the bridge with a new structure that will extend up West Main Street. The new bridge will be built under the MoDOT’s off-system Bridge Replacement and Rehabilitation (BRO) program. The county, Bethany Township and the city of Bethany will share in the matching funds for the bridge. The old structure was once a part of the Jefferson Highway system for the route between Bethany and New Hampton. Presiding Commissioner Jack Hodge said brush was cleared around the bridge last fall in order not to disturb a protected bat habitat. The county may begin advertising for bids for the new structure in April.