The Focus on Bridges program, led by the Missouri Department of Transportation, was launched in 2019 to repair or replace 250 of the state’s worst-condition bridges—most located in rural, agriculture-dependent areas. Costing $351 million, all 250 bridges were improved within four years. These bridges are vital to local communities. Their failure would force lengthy detours for school buses, farmers, and commercial traffic, disrupting daily life and economic activity.

By restoring this critical infrastructure, the program ensures reliable transportation, supports Missouri’s top industry—agriculture—and strengthens the long-term resilience of rural regions. With many of the at-risk bridges existing in rural communities, farmers needed reliable infrastructure to move crops and livestock. Key interstate structures, like the newly repaired Rocheport Bridge, also play a national role, serving as essential freight corridors. Closure of such bridges increases travel time and shipping costs, underscoring the program’s importance to both local resilience and national commerce.