The closing of the Old Baumgartner Road Bridge between Heintz Road and Burchmont Place will affect some Mehlville School District bus routes, according to district officials.

Some bus routes for Blades Elementary, Bernard Middle and Oakville High will change as a result of last week’s bridge closure. Pickup and drop-off times remain the same, but slight delays could occur due to the detour.

Exceptionally heavy rains last week caused extensive damage to the bridge, forcing its closure until repairs can be made.

St. Louis County Department of Transportation inspectors have been regularly monitoring the span. They determined April 28 that the structure’s concrete abutments — on which the bridge deck rests — have deteriorated to an unacceptable extent.

Heavy rains on April 26 contributed to the problem. Powerful currents on Mattese Creek, over which the bridge passes, battered the bridge for hours, weakening the abutments.

The bridge is roughly 70 years old. Drivers may use Heintz Road and Baumgartner Road to circumvent the closure.