Missouri Bicycle News

The MKT Railroad Bridge has retained its status as one of Missouri's most endangered historic places, as announced by Missouri Preservation on Saturday. . . .

The 73-year-old bridge was initially added to the list in 2005, when the annual announcement was made in Boonville. “This listing certainly shows the importance of the Katy Bridge,” Gallagher added.

The future of the historic structure, valued for its unique architecture and as the only railroad bridge that crosses the Missouri River on the statewide Katy Trail, became uncertain when Union Pacific Railroad announced plans in July 2004 to demolish the bridge, planning to reuse parts in a new structure and scape the rest.

Following a formation of a grassroots group to stop the demolition, the Save the Katy Bridge Coalition organized, garnering support not only across the state but nationally and internationally as well. The attorney general's office joined the effort in May 2005, filing a lawsuit against the Department of Natural Resources to, in the words of Attorney General Jay Nixon, “no-bid giveaway of the Katy Trail bridge at Boonville.”

The case has since preceded through the courts and is now in the appeal process, to be heard at the Missouri Court of Appeals-Western District in Kansas City.

Related:

News: Missouri Attorney General vows to save Katy Bridge at Boonville

News: Removing Katy Bridge at Boonville will endanger entire Katy Trail