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WILDWOOD, Mo. — Due to a bridge replacement project, visitors to the Missouri Department of Conservation’s (MDC) Rockwoods Reservation in Wildwood may need to access the area from an alternate route starting the week of Feb. 13.
During the four-to-six month construction project, the vehicular bridge on Glencoe Road immediately south of the visitor center will be closed for replacement. According to Mattheuw Prenger, MDC Project Engineer overseeing the construction, age and structural integrity concerns mandated replacing the existing vehicle bridge.
Visitors can still utilize the Hwy. 109 entrance to access the area’s Lime Kiln Trail, Turkey Ridge Trail, Wildlife Habitat Trail, and picnic areas.
However, in order to access the visitor center, Green Rock Trail, and Rock Quarry Trail, signs at the Hwy. 109 entrance will direct visitors along an approximately 5-mile detour. The detour route will go west along Melrose Road and lead to the area’s north entrance off old Manchester Road.
Alternatively, those arriving via southbound Hwy. 109 can turn right at old Manchester Road, then left on Glencoe Road to access the area’s north entrance. The north entrance is normally closed but will be open during the construction.
While the pedestrian bridge on the Trail Among the Trees, adjacent to the vehicular bridge, will remain open and allow visitors to access the whole area by foot, it may also be subject to periodic closures.
The Trail Among the Trees will remain accessible from both sides of the vehicular bridge. However, due to the bridge construction, the trail may periodically be closed at the adjacent foot bridge and be limited to “in and back” use instead of the normal loop.
Hikers should note there is currently another footbridge bridge out on this trail that requires either crossing a ravine or turning around at the halfway point.
Prenger noted that when completed, the construction will result in a new, improved, higher and wider bridge. The road immediately adjoining the bridge will also be made straighter. The exact length of the project will be dependent on weather conditions.
More information about Rockwoods Reservation, along with a map of the area and any significant bridge construction updates, can be found at https://goo.gl/9ZwxWY.
