Ray County commissioners are pushing Union Pacific Railroad to replace the 216 Bridge after residents described safety risks, travel delays and restricted access caused by the bridge’s collapse. The issue was recently discussed during a public forum with residents and Missouri Department of Transportation (Mo-DOT) officials, where community members explained the loss of the bridge has affected daily travel and emergency access for families living along West 216th Street. County officials said the bridge collapsed nearly two years ago when a piece of Union Pacific maintenance equipment struck the support pillars during track work, causing the structure to fall and leaving the crossing unusable. Since then, residents and county leaders have argued the railroad should be responsible for restoring the bridge because the damage occurred during railroad operations. Commissioners noted discussions with Union Pacific have been slow and often unclear as officials continue to try to…