Black River Crossing - Bridge 194.4 - Poplar Bluff, MO, MP 195.0 - Hoxie Subdivision Hoxie Sub Bridge over Black River at Poplar Bluff, MO. Photograph dated 4/2002. Edit 1/31/2024: This is an interesting bridge. It is a skewed design to meet the angle of the river it crosses. Fortunately it has been preserved in place on its original foundation piers. The bridge is a 150'-0" through pin connected truss (TPCT). It rests on its original stone piers. Laying on the ground to the east of the truss is the former north approach 50'-0" deck plate girder (DPG) span. It is on the river side of the earthen levy that protects the adjoining residential area east of the bridge crossing. Bridge is located northeast of the Frisco depot and downtown business area. The bridge crossing is skewed at approximately 45 degrees to the axis of the river. The east end of the bridge is just west of the T-shaped intersection of North Riverview Drive and Magnolia Avenue. The bridges are located at 629 North Riverside Drive. The west end of the bridge is just behind a city vehicle maintenance and storage shed. The Poplar Bluff Street Department is located at the end of the street at 201 Johnson Drive, Poplar Bluff, MO 63901. Just before reaching the city facility there is a grade crossing of the Missouri Pacific (MP) Railroad. The Frisco crossed the St. Louis Iron Mountain and Southern (StLIM&S), MP 194.5 at grade at this point. On the Iron Mountain / Missouri Pacific this is the location of Black River Junction, MP 163. Note just to the north on the MP crossing the set back of the southbound home signal from the grade crossing and siding turnout to the south. This accommodated both the roadway and the former diamond crossing of the Hoxie Subdivision. Continuing southwest the Frisco right of way ran adjacent to and along the north side of Johnson Drive. After crossing North Broadway Street, the railroad turned south and ran down what is today South Moran Street to the Frisco depot at Poplar Bluff, MP 195.0. The Frisco depot has been preserved. It is now the home of the Mo-Ark Regional Railroad Museum. The museum address is 303 South Moran Street, Poplar Bluff, MO 63901. Their web site is associated with the city. Please see https://www.poplarbluff-mo.gov/205/Railroad-Museum. First photograph is looking southwest. Note the city street department buildings in the background. The plate deck girder span is to the left of the photographer. The second photograph is looking northeast across the river. Note the rough face cut stone bridge piers. The former Missouri Pacific depot is also located in town. The depot is at their, MP 165.53. The depot address is 400 South Main Street, Poplar Bluff, MO 63901. Poplar Bluff was a division point for MP lines from Chicago, Chester Subdivision, St. Louis, DeSoto Subdivision, and Little Rock, Hoxie Subdivision. Added bridge detail narrative, number and station mile post. MKD
