The Missouri Department of Transportation shut down the bridge at 7:30 am on August 11, 2007, claiming to have discovered problems during regularly scheduled inspections. As the bridge is similar to the I-35W Mississippi River bridge which collapsed in Minnesota, locals have speculated that the inspection and closure were related to this incident.
At 7:30 am on August 11, 2007, the Missouri Department of Transportation shut down the bridge due to discovered problems during regular inspections. Given the bridge's resemblance to the I-35W Mississippi River bridge that collapsed in Minnesota, locals have speculated about a connection between the inspection and closure.