MODOT replacing bridge over Bull Shoals Lake at Theodosia, old bridge to be given away

If you have ever wanted to own a bridge but thought you couldn’t afford one, here is your chance. The Missouri Department of Transportation (MODOT) is replacing the U.S. Route 160 Bridge over Bull Shoals Lake at Theodosia in Ozark County and is giving away the old bridge for free.
MODOT has announced they plan to begin construction on a new bridge by 2029, so they are giving away the current bridge away through a program that will allow others to use it.

A study done in October of 2023 lists the bridge as structurally deficient. Donna Philpot is a Transportation Project Manager with MODOT. She says basically what that means is the bridge was built in 1951 and is at the end of its serviceable life and the bridge has been put in their program for replacement.

Philpot says they have a lot of preliminary work to get done before they can move on to the next steps of the project.

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Philpot says they won’t know exactly where they new bridge will be located until they finish all the preliminary work.

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Philpot says once they begin construction, it’s interesting how they build the base of the bridge in the water.

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At this point, MODOT projects the cost of installing the new bridge at Theodosia will cost just under $100.4 million.

Anyone interested in obtaining the old bridge has until Jan. 9, 2026 to submit a proposal. Funding is also available to reimburse the recipient for reusing the bridge.

The old Bull Shoals Lake Bridge is 74-years old and is a riveted, ten-span bridge with a total length of 1,816 feet or just over one third of a mile. The bridge is comprised of ten 181-foot Camelback through truss spans. The bridge has concrete abutments, wingwalls and concrete column piers with web-walls. It is eligible of the National Register of Historic Places.

MODOT is also replacing the bridge U.S. Route 160 Bridge over Swan Creek in Taney County and giving that bridge away as well.

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