Students bused after defects found in pedestrian overpass

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. — After a pedestrian overpass was shut down due to structural issues, the local school district began shuttling about 100 elementary students who normally aren't eligible for transportation.

Springfield Public Schools said that to ensure the students' safety, they will continue to be shuttled by school bus across the four-lane street between their school and where they live while the bridge is closed.

The city notified the district Tuesday morning that as of that afternoon, the students could no longer use the overpass. A city announcement described the problem as a "sudden structural failure."

The city said that public works engineers had conducted maintenance on the bridge as recently as last week, "but the work was mostly in response to cosmetic issues. The structural problems discovered today came about suddenly, and are beyond repair."

The city said that there was no immediate danger to vehicles traveling beneath the bridge, and the four other pedestrian bridges in Springfield were being examined for any potential structural issues.

The overpass, which was built in the last 1970s, was scheduled to be removed Wednesday night. City Manager Greg Burris said that the city, Springfield Public Schools and the Missouri Department of Transportation will come together in the near future to discuss a plan for possible replacement of the bridge. No timeline or cost estimates are known yet.

The students are being picked up and dropped off by school bus at two locations south of the overpass. Along with the bus service, a crossing guard was relocated to better assist students.