|-| Hi Guys, Just wanted to let everyone know that MoDot has decided the bridge at Alhambra Grotto that crosses the Little Piney Creek is unsafe for motor vehicle traffic and has closed all vehicular access to the bridge. You can still walk to the Alhambra Grotto, but you have to park your car on Hwy. "P" nearby. In case you are wondering, Alhambra Grotto is located 4 miles west of Newburg on County Road 7530, and is also the location of the old Knotwell Iron Works. It is now private property and is marked "No Trespassing" I have enclosed a photo of the storm damage to the bridge which prompted the closure, and some old photos of Grotto when it was known as Forest Spring Lodge. FriscoGeorge|-|
couldnt see the picture of the bridge very well. It wouldnt let me pull it up to enlarge it. All I could see was the thumbnail image.
Folks, Sorry the photo of the bridge is so poor. I got it off the Rolla Daily News web page and it would not let me resize the photo. The story can be read at: www.therolladailynews.com Just look under the "Most Popular Stories" column on the right for the story "County closes unsafe bridge" George|-|
George - Do they eventually plan to repair the bridge? It's one of those low-water wet bridges very common to the Ozarks. Shouldn't be too hard to fix ..... unless it has been undermined by the current. Ken
As of now there are no plans to fix it. MoDot claims it cost them $15,000 to $20,000 a year to repair the yearly flood damage, and since the river floods almost every year, replacement of the bridge would be to costly. (Isn't that always the case with the government?) The budget for Phelps County is broke, so no plans for repair until more money comes in. There are only 3 families that live over there anyway, and there is another road which accesses them from the north. By the way, this bridge is in EXTREMELY poor condition. The continuous flood waters of the last two years has washed out the support pilings and caused the bridge to buckle (see photo). A small car cannot negotiate the bridge without getting damage from scraping on the center slab of raised concrete. George
Wow, I just drove across that bridge earlier this month. At least you can still drive down to the Grotto from old 66.
Folks, The latest word from the grapevine is that Richie Myers, son of the late Dr. Richard Myers of Doolittle, has petitioned the County of Phelps for transfer of property rights of CR 7530 from Hwy. "P" 4 miles west of Newburg, to the junction with Old 66 in Doolittle from the county and BNSF RR control to the control of the Myers family which would make the entire area OFF LIMITS to anyone outside of those living on the property. Currently there are four families living at the old Alhambra Grotto. The old Knotwell Ironworks is posted "No Trespassing" and the Grotto Bridge has been condemned by MoDot as unsafe for vehicle travel. The area is under legal litigation with a hearing scheduled on April 6th in the Phelps County Courthouse in Rolla. Frisco George
