Branson and Springfield residents can have the full experience without having to worry about transportation.  Fun on the Run is hosting a tailgate party with brauts and burgers, Deluxe Motorcoach transportation and a ticket to the game fr $197.

Seats are limited ! Call Karen Steele at (417) 335-4466 to reserve your spot today !

Branson, Taney County — The Route 248 bridge over Route 65 in Branson will be CLOSED at 9 a.m. Friday, Nov. 18, and may remain closed into early Monday, Nov. 21, the Missouri Department of Transportation said.

When the bridge is reopened late Sunday or by 6 a.m. Monday at the latest, the bridge will be in the new Diverging Diamond Interchange traffic pattern. That means cars will criss-cross at traffic signals at the end of the bridge and drive across the bridge on the left-hand side, allowing for smoother and safer left turns onto Route 65.

Traffic Impacts During the Bridge Closing

The ramps at the Route 248/65 interchange will remain open over the weekend. However, drivers can make only right turns from the Route 65 ramps onto Route 248 or from Route 248 onto Route 65.

Drivers will NOT be able to turn left onto or off of Route 248. No traffic will be allowed to cross the Route 248 bridge.

Drivers are urged to use the Route 65/Branson Hills Parkway interchange north of Route 248 or the Route 65/Route 76 interchange south of Route 248 to reach their destinations.

Accommodations have been made to allow emergency vehicles to travel across the bridge when responding to emergencies.

Work During the Closing

While the bridge is closed, contractor crews will install:

* Pavement markings to direct drivers through the interchange once it reopens.

* Traffic signals and lighting.

* Concrete islands that will help shift traffic into the correct lanes to drive across the bridge in the new configuration.

New Traffic Pattern When Route 248 Bridge Reopens

Under the Diverging Diamond Interchange design, the opposing lanes of Route 248 will criss-cross at traffic signals at the ends of the bridge over Route 65. Crossing the bridge, oncoming traffic will be on the right. Opposing lanes will be divided by a concrete barrier, with a pedestrian walkway in between the walls.

This configuration will provide left-turning vehicles on Route 248 a “free left” onto Route 65. At the same time, traffic continuing east or west on Route 248 will be able to travel through the interchange without being stopped due to a back up of left-turning traffic.

Signs, pavement markings and concrete islands will clearly guide drivers and help prevent making a wrong turn into the opposing lanes.

Right-angle crashes involving left-turning vehicles from Route 248 to Route 65 should be eliminated and rear-end crashes should be reduced.

Three other Diverging Diamond Interchanges are in use in Missouri: Two in Springfield at Kansas Expressway/I-44 (opened in 2008) and at National Avenue/Route 60 (opened in 2009) and one in St. Louis at Dorsett Road and I-270 (opened in 2009). Two other diverging diamond interchanges are under construction in the Kansas City area.

Project Background

* Widen the Route 248 bridge by 10-feet to allow for three lanes across the bridge when the project is complete; two lanes eastbound and one lane westbound

* Repair the existing Route 248 bridge and resurface the bridge deck

* Widen the southbound ramp at the interchange to include dual right- and dual left-turn lanes from Route 65 onto Route 248

* Install new traffic signals and street lighting at the interchange

The $5 million dollar project, a partnership with the city of Branson, will convert the interchange into a diverging diamond, widen the Route 248 bridge and repair the existing bridge deck and widen the ramps leading off of and onto Route 65.

The prime contractor on the project is APAC-Missouri of Columbia, doing the work for a low bid amount of $5 million. The project is scheduled for completion by December 19, 2011.

Map of Downtown Branson

Check the map above for pickup locations.

The trolley operates daily from 9:00 AM – 6:00 PM every day of the year except Thanksgiving & Christmas. The trolley runs on a constant loop – meaning pick up and drop off is generally every 15 minutes.

Taneycomo and Taneycobama Bridge Nov. 14 2011 by Darin Codon

that connects Branson and Hollister comes from. While it appears to come from a tribe of native warriors it is instead an abbreviation of Taney County Missouri.

I’m not sure what inspired me to do so, but the bridge itself is one of personal fascination for me. I can’t seem to stop shooting photos of it.

For a year I walked it everyday as a $450 million dollar project was constructed on its shore. The project called the Branson Landing currently brings $200 million dollars in sales annually and is the areas most modern multi-use district. It houses the Hilton Convention Center, several restaurants and scores of shopping options.

The bridge that crosses Taneycomo was built in 1931 weathering years of traffic connecting the city of Branson to Hollister and Eastern Taney County. Besides transferring tourists a majority of Branson’s workforce uses the bridge to cross into Branson to earn a wage.

Missouri’s Department of Transportation completed patchwork on the bridge annually. It took seventy-nine years for complete resurfacing became a necessity.

Local politicians, specifically the city of Branson, Hollister , Taney County and Missouri officials came to an agreement to finance the construction of a second bridge, roundabout and resurfacing of the original bridge.  The total cost was $16.2 million.

When the Obama administration initiated the Recovery and Revitalization act, better known as the stimulus plan, the bridge project was shovel ready.  A new bridge, aka the Taneycobama Bridge, was completely financed from the 2009 stimulus.  The Taneycobama Bridge itself constituted a $12.2 million dollar expense.  The resurfacing of the old bridge cost an additional $4 million of which $439,000 was financed through the stimulus and the remaining debt picked up by the state of Missouri.  While the federal government financed the project, local government officials found new ways to spend the budgeted money, and though Branson yields more tax dollars per capita than any other county in Missuri,  local authorities claim they still don’t have enough.

Location of Old Taneycomo Bridge / Branson Landing During Floods 2008 by Darin Codon

Last week the project was completed. What many locals don’t know is that the original bridge crossed where a fire and water feature now sits at the Branson Landing.  After a flood wiped out the first bridge the electric company was asked by the city of Branson to rebuild it. The electric company said they didn’t own the Branson Landing and thus were in no way responsible to rebuild it. The Supreme Court in the state of Missouri deemed the electric company did not own the land. Decades later the same property was leased to the city of Branson from the leaseholder the Supreme Court ruled didn’t own it.  The city of Branson hired a Supreme Court Justice of their own to undo the ruling and the Branson Landing property is re-working its way through the court.

Irresponsible government spending and legal entanglements continue to bridge our present and our past as Taneycomo flows on.

Taneycomo Bridge 2009

Currently, the pink cab will only be used to transport patients to and from Skaggs Center for Women’s Health. The project will last for at least 2 years and, if found to be successful, could become extended.

From Chief’s games to concerts “Fun On the Run” is Missouri’s official party bus. Our packages include tickets, transportation and all the stress that can get in the way of you having a good time.

Check our Facebook page for upcoming events!

While Southeast Missouri embraced for the destructive power of the Mississippi River and and F5 Tornado aka (“The finger of God”) wiped Joplin boulevards off the map; Branson weather hazards weren’t as extreme.

Three lakes connect the Branson area though at one time all were one river – The Mighty White River.

Twice in five years the 20 year flood line was breached.  Table Rock Lake whose tailwater feeds Lake Taneycomo flooded forcing a 62,500 cubic feet per second spillway to unleash water drowning out whole neighborhoods at the city’s lower elevations.

Branson’s commercial market didn’t suffer physical damage, at least not enough to shut Branson down. Still, the people have suffered. Perphaps, if you’re going on vacation, you could consider Branson. It’s a reasonably priced destination and, well, we need you more than ever.

JEFFERSON CITY – Today is the first day of winter, and that means it’s time to winterize your car.

A video on the Missouri Department of Transportation’s YouTube site gives a quick rundown of the most important things you can do to get your car ready for winter, from tires to antifreeze to what to pack for an emergency. The video is located at www.youtube.com/modotvideo.

Here are some of the highlights:

•· Check your tire pressure and tread condition.

•· Make sure your antifreeze is at proper levels.

•· Inspect the oil level and windshield wiper fluid.

•· Pack a small emergency kit in case of the unexpected.

The first ever Missouri-hosted car seat Twitter party is from 1-3 p.m., Thursday, Sept. 23. Certified car seat technicians will answer any question tweeted to #savemokids via Twitter.com.

During the last three years in Missouri, 55 children were killed and 655 suffered disabling injuries as a result of traffic crashes.

“Many people still don’t understand the importance of using the appropriate car seat for kids up to age eight,” said Leanna Depue, chair of the coalition’s executive committee. “We wanted to do something different this year to reach caregivers and answer any questions they might have. When it comes to the safety of a child, there is no room for mistakes.”

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration says that child safety seats reduce the risk of being killed in a car crash by 71 percent for an infant and by 54 percent for a toddler. This is why all 50 states have laws that require the use of child safety restraints.

The wide range of makes and models of car seats on the market today has left more than a few parents confused. A recent NHTSA study reveals nearly 3 out of 4 parents don’t know how to use child safety restraints properly. Child Passenger Safety Technicians in Missouri report an even higher misuse rate.

National Seat Check Saturday is Sept. 25 and technicians will provide on-site car seat checks and education at locations across Missouri. Seat Check Saturday is the culmination of a week-long child safety seat campaign that begins Sept. 19. The annual campaign includes education on proper safety seat installation and use as well as increased law enforcement cracking down on Missouri’s child safety seat law violators. Violators could pay fines as much as $50 plus court costs.

“Properly securing your child in a safety seat is about more than following the law though,” Depue said. “Safety seats prevent serious injuries and could save your child’s life.”

Missouri law requires all children under eight to be in an appropriate child safety seat or booster seat, unless:

•· They are at least 80 pounds.

•· They are at least 4’9″ tall.

A list of car seat inspection stations and locations for the Sept. 25 car seat checkups can be found at saveMOlives.com. Buckle Up and Arrive Alive.