Proposals now being accepted for dismantling, reusing Theodosia bridge

The news broke last week that the historic Theodosia bridge on Highway 160 over Bull Shoals Lake will be available for relocation and reuse, free of charge, to one lucky interested party. 

Government entities, historical or civic organizations or private individuals may submit proposals to the Missouri Department of Transportation by Jan. 9, 2026, for consideration to receive the bridge. 

While the idea sparked surprise in the community, many wondering if the widely circulated infographic announcing the bridge giveaway was some kind of joke, MoDOT officials confirm it’s quite real.

MoDOT’s offer, which allows for the bridge’s relocation and preservation, is part of a larger improvement project slated for the Theodosia crossing that involves replacing the bridge, but MoDOT officials say that construction is still several years away. 

When the information was posted on social media, many residents were quick to  suggest the bridge be obtained by Ozark County to be used in many of the low water crossings, but the commissioners say they believe the cost to relocate the bridge would be in the millions and far out of reach of the county budget. 

Potential financial aid

MoDOT does offer up to 100% of the demolition costs (what would have been spent to demolish the bridge) in potential reimbursement for the recipient using it. The funding is primarily available to entities who will remove the bridge themselves. If the entity instead needs MoDOT to remove the bridge and set it aside for later pickup, funding would not be available. 

If funds are granted for the demolition costs, federal law prohibits any other Title 23 transportation funds to be used for the bridge in the future. Therefore, they suggest looking into some of the other funding sources, including two specific grant programs - the Recreational Trails Program (RTP) from the Missouri State Park System and the Transportation Alternatives Program through MoDOT, to see if they are better fits before applying for the demolition reimbursement funds. 

A historic piece of Ozark County

The Theodosia bridge, constructed in 1951, is a riveted, ten-span camelback through-truss structure measuring 1,816 feet in length. It includes concrete abutments, wingwalls and column piers with web-walls. The deck features a concrete base topped with a bituminous surface.

The bridge was built under project SC(80) 3-A as a direct result of the Bull Shoals Dam impoundment, with construction funded by the federal government due to its necessity in rerouting traffic. The contract was awarded on Aug. 27, 1951, to Maxwell Bridge Company of Columbus, Kansas, with trusses fabricated by Stupp Brothers Bridge and Iron Company and steel supplied by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

This unique piece of infrastructure is eligible for the National Register of Historic Places under criteria A and C—for its multiple-span truss design and its association with the formation of Bull Shoals Lake.

Bridge replacement project

So what does this mean for the future of the current bridge? 

According to MoDOT Senior Communications Specialist Marissa Van Robey Johnson, MoDOT is currently in the midst of a multi-year environmental review process that will determine the potential impacts of replacing the bridge. 

“Traffic data collection and geotechnical surveying are already underway,” she told the Times. “Environmental surveys will begin in late summer or early fall, and we anticipate that phase to wrap up in August 2026.”

Actual construction of a new bridge is still several years away, she says. MoDOT emphasizes that public input will be a key part of the process, and more detailed information regarding the proposed design, alignment and construction timeline will be shared as planning progresses.

Find out more

Details about the bridge, as well as proposal requirements and a checklist, are available at www.modot.org/freebridges. Proposals must include a detailed dismantling and relocation plan, an estimated cost and a description of the bridge’s intended future use.

For more information or to inquire about the proposal process, contact MoDOT’s Historic Preservation Section at 573-526-4778, email co_historic_preservation@modot.mo.gov or visit www.modot.org/freebridges.