Missouri’s highway system gains something of a historic new bridge next Monday. The state got some national attention last February when it became the first state to put federal stimulus money to work. That project is within days of completion–the Highway 17 bridge across the Osage River at Tuscumbia, in central Missouri’s Miller County.

It replaces a old bridge built in 1932 that was closed to big trucks three years ago because of structural concerns.

A Missouri Department of Transportation spokesman says area residents have not been inconvenienced by construction of the new bridge because they’ve been able to use the old bridge. But the old bridge will be closed on Thursday so final construction of the approaches to the new bridge can be completed.

 Kristi Jamison talked with Bob Priddy 2:56 mp3