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Photo of the bridge out detour
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Jerry Whittle from Belleville on 10/26/2020 3:08:04 PM:
The Nov-Dec 20 issue of Terrain Magazine's cover photo is about the detour for the bridge out near MM 180. The shot is facing west and shows a little water in the creek.

http://digital.terrain-mag.com/NovemberDecember-2020/C1/

I did it in September and the hardest part was pushing about 60 pounds of bike up that hill in the photo.
 
Ken McDaniel from Kansas City on 10/26/2020 8:10:16 PM:
So is that a safe place to cross? I know there re detours that require riders to take highway. I don't like riding on roadways, period. I ws gonna ride the Booneville to Jeff City part of the trail but was skeptical because of the detour. But if there is a safe crossing at the creek that would solve a dilemma for me.
 
Jerry Whittle from Belleville on 10/27/2020 7:22:09 AM:
As long as the creek isn't more than a few inches high, it's very safe. You have to either ride a very short distance on the road or push your bike through some weeds on the west side of that detour. I remember that someone complained about either ticks or chiggers on the detour so you may want to use DEET on your legs before. I didn't and had no issues. Of course with the cold weather, bugs become less of an issue.

The detour around the rock slide does require about a half mile of riding on the road; however, I thought that the road was plenty wide enough and safe.

Around Sedalia you have to ride a few miles on roads. I found it plenty safe as there was little traffic.
 
LS Rider on 11/1/2020 7:59:10 AM:
I am SO disappointed with the State of Missouri for not even trying to fix this bridge after 1.5 years. The Katy Trail is one of the premier trails in the US and with no attempt of a repair is unacceptable! The very least they could construct a temporary bridge to walk your bike across. (this is what the C&O did on a washed out bridge last year) Their alternative is to have you ride your bike on 40 Hwy/240 Hwy for 5+ miles. 40 Hwy has large Semi Trucks and Farm Vehicles traveling at a high rate of speed and there is NO shoulder. DOES SOMEONE HAVE TO BE KILLED BEFORE DOING SOMETHING? I heard that it will take another 1-2 years before anything will be done. With the recent rains there was no way to cross the creek as the water was too high and it was a muddy mess. If you are traveling west to east it is an uphill climb on 40 Hwy. Come on State of Missouri...Do Something!!
 
Anonymous on 11/1/2020 5:03:48 PM:
It is evident that you have contacted the Missouri DNR to let them know how irresponsible they are.

What was their response?
 
John Little from Auburn, Alabama on 11/2/2020 1:22:21 AM:
We crossed this creek a few days ago (opposite direction as shown in photo). The water was only a few inches deep. The only problem was the mud. It had been raining for several days when we crossed. Our bikes were fully loaded, so when pushing them up that hill, mud quickly gummed up our wheels, between the tires and fenders. Bike would no longer roll. If I could do it over again, I'd take my bags off and carry those separately to dry trail, then carry the bike. I wouldn't roll the bike through any of that muck.

But still, we had a great time. It was an adventure and was better than the highway.
 
Lesley from KC on 11/26/2020 5:36:01 AM:
I crossed yesterday. Well, I tried. After a few days of rain, I got a lot of mud for my efforts and had to use the highway detour. List a lot of time dealing with the mud, too. Hopefully the worst aspect of my Katy Trail ride.
 
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