Reply to Route 47 bridge in Washington & flooding status from Case to Treloar?

We are planning to do a long trip next summer with two young kids (in a trailer), but will be driving through MO in early August and thought it might be a good opportunity to 'test out' the experience. An Amtrak sale prompted me to plan a one day quick trip between Washington and Hermann, and it looks like there may be two issues:

1. Is the route 47 bridge in Washington passable yet for cyclists? Some news articles early this year talked about moving equipment after demolition of the old bridge before they could open it, and the MDOT site doesn't mention anything: https://www.modot.org/route-47-missouri-river-bridge

2. What river level should I look at to determine flooding between Case and Treloar (currently listed as flooded)? This section isn't listed in the 'potential flood locations', so I'm assuming once the river recedes to 31 feet it will be dry? (I realize nobody can predict rain in the future, but I'd like to know how to determine if it will be passable before we commit a day of the road trip to this).

Anything else to know for a single day out and back trip between Hermann and Washington?

We would be 'chancing' it by trying to carry on a folded bike trailer (Chariot Cheetah 2), but would bring a bag to check it if necessary.

Hwy 47 bridge at Washington:
I highly doubt the bike lane will be open by August. Last I read was fall sometime, but there have been no updates lately. Note that from the bridge to Dutzow trailhead you will be riding on the shoulder of the highway.

Possibly consider scheduling a shuttle from Amtrak in Washington to Dutzow or Marthasville. Revolution Cycles would be the one to call in Washington.

Be aware that the bridge, although the protected bike lanes aren’t open, has 2 10 foot shoulders. If you are even moderately experienced cyclist (can ride some roads) the ride to Dutzow also has shoulders and is quite rideable in my opinion. Even a bicycle tourist who only rides rail trails has to ride streets in towns to eat and get groceries, and has to ride the occasional detour.

Allen

I would NOT recommend riding a bike with trailer on Hwy 47 from Dutzow to Washington. I rode it recently and frankly it sucks. Narrow shoulder, high volume traffic, and the shoulder pavement is deteriorating. I agree Rev Cycles in Washington is the best bet for a shuttle. It will take some leadership and some gov't money to find a solution to the Dutzow-Washington connection. I do think once the bike lane is open and cyclists start showing up regularly on the highway and Augusta Bottom Rd that people will start to understand the safety problem. I don't want to overstate it but it's not good and young riders in particular should not be on that highway route.

Thanks for all the feedback. For the Dutzow to Washington connection, I was planning on riding the trail to Augusta Bottom Road and circling back to the route 47 bridge, so we would only be on 47 just for the bridge portion. I just was concerned that if there was a planned ped/bike path that the current passable road route would not have a sizeable shoulder.

Sounds like it’s doable, but won’t be ideal yet. I’d call myself a casual cyclist who doesn’t mind two-lane neighborhood roads, or 4-lane roads if they are in low speed areas of town (universities, for instance). But towing a trailer with my kids in it makes me more nervous since I can’t really see them and their surroundings to confirm they will be ok.

I’ll take this as an opportunity to email Washington officials and show them that bike tourism is beneficial. ;) — but that if we want to go for it, we should be able to reasonably cross the river, even if it’s not pleasant.


Any comments on the flood stage height of the section from Case to Treolar?