A local access to the North Fork of the White River is no longer available after a nearby bridge was destroyed in the spring floods. According to Jessi Dreckman of the Ozark County Times, the construction to the James Bridge in Ozark County will permanently prevent its access to the water from being usable.
The bridge on Missouri Route PP was never officially a public access point but the area, consisting of the Missouri Department of Transportation’s (MoDOT) right-of-way and private land, has long been used as an access for outfitters and private boaters. MoDOT project manager Pete Berry reports crews are currently working six days per week rebuilding James Bridge after it was washed away in a flood on April 29th. Berry says the area is a current construction zone and can’t be used as a point to launch or take out canoes, kayaks or other watercraft. That situation will continue in the future because the new James Bridge will be four feet higher than the former bridge. Berry adds the width of the highway will remain the same, but the width of the completed bridge’s footprint, including the banked roadsides, will probably increase approximately 20 feet.
The North Fork is currently open for river traffic at the construction site, but at some point, work crews will need to install the bridge’s main horizontal support beams. When that time comes, the river channel will close for brief periods of time to protect floaters from danger, and MoDOT will have a flagger in the river to stop floaters from using the main channel during those times until river travel is safe.
Other access points to the North Fork should be available.
The Hammond Camp Access, also known as North Fork Recreation Area, is open for day-use swimming and floating. The access received extensive damage during the late April flood, and the bridge on Missouri Route CC was completely washed away. As the bridge is being rebuilt and scheduled to be completed by October, visitors to the area should be cautious of dump trucks and other construction traffic frequenting the roads near the access, and construction noise may be a concern for swimmers. The Hammond campground is still closed due to water and electrical issues, Blue Spring is still accessible for visitors to walk down to. In addition, the access area has a working restroom and several usable picnic tables
The Blair Bridge Access is now open after the Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) recently completed its work. Most of the shade trees on the lower section of the access wer swept away in the flood, but the upper area near the privy and entrance is still shaded. The restroom is open, and some picnic tables remain while others were washed away. The campsites are on a first-come, first-serve basis and don’t include water or electricity amenities.
Patrick Bridge Access is open for swimmers and boaters. MDC Construction and Maintenance Superintendent Michael Smith says its concrete circle drive won’t be replaced, but a concrete drive from the parking lot to the existing ramp is planned for the future. The restroom was destroyed in the flood, but the MDC plans to eventually move another restroom into the access area. The Althea Spring Trail has also been closed since late April, and the MDC is asking visitors to avoid the trail as crews are working to clear it and get it re-opened. The campground across the river from the access on Missouri Route H was not damaged, and its 12 campsites are on a first-come, first-serve basis.
Tecumseh Park at Norfork Lake is underwater, but a small portion of the road to the access is out of the water and being used to park vehicles and boat trailers. Some visitors of the access are also parking alongside U.S. Highway 160 near the access.
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