August 19th, 2026 Local News
St. Francois Co., Mo. (KFMO) - A nearly 100-year-old historic bridge in St. Francois County is in need of replacement, but county officials are considering an option that could preserve the structure for future generations.
The bridge, located on Hillsboro Road just south of Highway K near Bonne Terre, is sometimes referred to as the “Seven Arches Bridge.” According to Jeremy Manning, Director of Client Services with Great River Engineering, the bridge has been evaluated for some time and is now beyond repair.
Manning discussed the bridge during this week’s meeting of the St. Francois County Commission. One option being considered would involve constructing a new bridge next to the existing historic structure. Rather than demolishing the old bridge, the county could preserve it as a historical site.
Under that proposal, St. Francois County would be responsible for maintaining the existing bridge, while the new bridge would handle current transportation needs.
State funding would help offset the cost of constructing the replacement bridge. Based on current construction costs, Manning estimates the new bridge would cost approximately $2.2 million.
That figure would not include the additional costs associated with maintaining the existing historic bridge if county officials choose to preserve it.
The proposal remains under consideration as the county looks at the best way to address the aging bridge while potentially preserving a piece of St. Francois County history.