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Fate of MKT Boonville Bridge - SAVED!

After a long battle to save this bridge from destruction, the issue is finally resolved. Perhaps some day the Katy Trail will actually use this bridge to cross the Missouri River at Boonville.

Boonville Katy Bridge

Source: Boonville Daily News

From ABC 17 News, Columbia:

Historic MKT Bridge at Boonville to be Preserved
Agreement between Missouri an Union Pacific Reached in Principle.
Posted on Thu Feb 4, 2010

Governor Jay Nixon today announced that Missouri has reached an agreement-in-principle with Union Pacific Railroad that will preserve the historic MKT railroad lift bridge over the Missouri River at Boonville.

In the agreement Union Pacific will turn ownership over to Boonville, in return the state will use $23 million in stimulus funds to build a bridge over the Osage River near Jefferson City for Union Pacific to use. Union Pacific will also help with the cost, about $6 million.

Nixon made the announcement this afternoon in Boonville at the Katy Trail Depot.

City officials and the Save the Katy Bridge Coalition have led efforts to preserve the landmark bridge, which is part of the rail corridor that forms the 225-mile long Katy Trail State Park.

The bridge was constructed in 1932; at the time, its 400-foot long central lift span was the longest in the country.

“This is an exciting day not only for the people of Boonville, but also for recreation enthusiasts and for those want to preserve a piece of Missouri and railroad history,” Gov. Nixon said. “I want to thank the city, the coalition and Union Pacific for making this possible to keep this historic bridge in place, and I look forward to seeing plans for developing the bridge as a tourism centerpiece for Boonville come to fruition.”

The Governor said that with the announcement of the bridge transfer, the Missouri Division of State Parks was prepared to discuss with Boonville officials how the bridge might eventually be incorporated into use by bicyclists, joggers and hikers using the nearby Katy Trail.

As far as when those plans will start or how much it will cost, we're told it's still up in the air. The city feels it could cost anywhere between $2 million to $4 million for the upgrades.

Still they tell us the money will be worth it as they will gain revenue from the tourists that attracted to the bridge.

Boonville is one of the most populous communities along the trail, which is used by more than 300,000 people each year.

Past news stories, to explain the situation before the bridge was saved:

Judge rules against keeping bridge, 04/25/2006
City of Boonville to file friend of court brief in Katy Bridge case, 03/29/2006
MoBikeFed requests to file friend of court brief in Boonville Bridge case, 12/05/2005
Environmental group joins Katy bridge suit, 11/23/2005
First Katy Bridge Festival in Boonville, 10/05/2005 (and a few other interesting tidbits)
Fourth judge assigned to Katy Bridge case, 09/06/2005
Bridge group launches $1 million pledge drive, 08/20/2005

Great article: Misunderstood issues about the Katy Bridge at Boonville, which clearns up some of the misconceptions that have been thrown around.

This started off as an issue of whether the Katy Trail might make use of an historic old bridge in Boonville. But whether the Katy Trail uses the bridge or not is no longer the key issue. What's at issue is the fact that due to a legal technicality, giving this bridge to the railroad could jeopardize the entire Katy Trail.

First some background: If you've ridden the Katy Trail across the Missouri River in Boonville, you've undoubtedly noticed the unusual bridge just upstream. This is the old MKT railroad bridge, which is no longer used by the railroad - it's part of the former MKT rail line that is now the trail. When the trail was built in Boonville, it was routed up to the hwy 40 bridge to cross the Missouri River.

Business and civic leaders hope to renovate the bridge and incorporate it into the Katy Trail. But the railroad wants to dismantle the bridge.

Governor Blunt decided to let the railroad have the bridge. The problem is that once the railroad demolishes the bridge, the old railroad right-of-way will no longer be intact. This may nullify the legal basis for the entire Katy Trail, making it possible for adjoining landowners to claim portions of the trail as their property, and close those sections of the trail.

This article offers an excellent explanation of why this move literally threatens the entire Katy Trail.

What could be: Check out this letter from Tennessee, with details of a very similar situation. In that case, the bridge was redeveloped and has become a major asset for the citizens of Chattanooga.

My original letter to Governor Blunt regarding the MKT Boonville Bridge.

Want to help? Please visit Save the Katy Bridge Coalition and make a pledge. No pledges will be collected until the bridge is saved and approved for pedestrian use development.

Useful/Related Resources

Michael J Smith analyzed the legal aspects of landowner challenges to rail-trails in Missouri, particularly regarding the Katy Trail. Mr Smith, now an attorney, wrote the paper in the fall 0f 2005 for his Public Land Law class when he was still a law student. The work and opinions are entirely his own.
The paper is in MS-Word format: Rails-to-trails: The Missouri Experience (just click CANCEL if your browser asks for authentication information).
In October 2007, the Missouri Court of Appeals issued a ruling that says the state does not have a property interest in the bridge. Michael Smith again analyzed the situation in light of this ruling: Boonville Bridge Analysis November 2007 The work and opinions are entirely his own.
Save the Katy Bridge Coalition
Boonville, Missouri information

Comments from other riders

Subject: Booneville railroad bridge options Started: Feb 1 2006 10:59AM by MLH , Overland Park
I just happened to strike up a conversation with a Union Pacific official last evening. We discussed several railroad-related issues including steam excursions etc. When I brought up the subject of the Katy Trail, specifically my plea to save the bridge over the Missouri River in Booneville (the implications of which are well known to most of you and discussed elsewhere on this site), he was quite firm in his conviction that the Railroad really needs the bridge elsewhere to double track a mainline and it sounded to me like there was no further decision to be made at least from his point of view. Interestingly enough, he did make the comment that the piers would be left, implying that they could be used for another bridge. I have seen proposals to convert the existing bridge into a bike/pedestrian bridge but am curious about the concept of... View Full Comment
Replies: 12 (Last reply: Jan 8 2010 9:45AM by Ben, Imperial & Rolla, MO: "Is there any update on the status of the bridge? ..." )	View This Topic

Subject: Boonville Bridge Started: Apr 20 2006 4:16PM by Clint Thompson , Moberly
I'm trying to figure out something. Why is it that people say that if they move the Boonville Bridge it threatens the survival of the Katy Trail? I didn't think that the trail used that bridge anyway. I'm just trying to understand the issue. The articles that I have read didn't really explain anything other than the poltics of the matter
Replies: 42 (Last reply: Aug 17 2009 7:43AM by Paul Toigo Kansas City: "From: http://www......" )	View This Topic

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