scottw@standard-democrat.com
BENTON -- Commuters and other motorists frequenting the back route between Chaffee and Cape Girardeau can look forward to an end to the detour around the overpass destroyed by a train crash.
The State Route M overpass located north of Chaffee at Rockview should be open by the weekend, Jamie Burger, presiding Scott County commissioner, said during the regular County Commission meeting Tuesday.
"They are doing some work on the approaches yet," Burger said.
"We anticipate to open that around noon Friday," confirmed Marissa Van Robey, community relations specialist for MoDOT's southeast district.
The overpass collapsed in May when a Burlington Northern Santa Fe train collided with a Union Pacific train. The collision damaged columns supporting the bridge, according to authorities.
The detour requires motorists to use county roads which cross two sets of railroad tracks, Burger said.
"The sooner they get that open the better off everybody will be and the safer we will be," he said.
For the complete article and more local news stories, see the Wednesday Aug. 28 edition of the Standard Democrat. For the electronic edition click here to log on.