The closure of a bridge across Table Rock Lake south of Branson is inching closer.

Missouri's transportation department will shut down the Highway 86 Bridge for up to 30 days sometime after Memorial Day. Highway 86 is the primary route that people living on the west side of the Long Creek Bridge take to get to Branson or Hollister.

"We come here for everything," Tracee Brevell said.

Brevell depends on that road as she comes to town for work every day.

"I travel Highway 13 to Highway 86 to Highway 65 and here I am," Brevell said.

However, Branson workers aren't the only ones worried about the closure.

Vacation rental owners like David Warren say visitors come here not only to enjoy the Ozarks outdoors, but also to explore shows and shopping.

"We're only fifteen minutes from the Branson strip," David Warren said.

However, getting to Branson from his cabins will take an extra hour, just as tourism season starts. He hopes his business survives the up to 30 day closure.

"One month, I probably could, with God's help," Warren said.

He also owns a nearby mobile home park, which the money from his cabin rentals helps keep up. People who live in the park say safety is the top concern.

"It's going to hurt people a lot," Dwight Nesbitt said. "That's the closest hospital, going across the bridge and going to Branson."

"There are so many families in this park that have medical issues," Gladys Egan said.

A spokesperson for the Taney County Ambulance District say they have plans to arrange quick responses through neighboring departments across the bridge, if MoDot doesn't allow emergency vehicles across the bridge during the closure.

MoDot officials say the upcoming work includes emergency repairs.

Meanwhile, some people question what could have been done sooner.

"I wish the bridge would have been better maintained overtime," Brevell said.

Many people even called their State Representative to voice concerns.

"One of the number one concern I've heard from constituents with regard to this situation is, 'why have we waited so late?' Rep. Brad Hudson said. "I hope maybe MoDot can learn from it, and all that are involved, to avoid something like this in the future, if at all possible."

During the up to 30 day closure, MoDot will make repairs that will last until the larger rehabilitation or replacement project, which could start in 2022. Closures are planned during that bigger project as well. The length of closure during that project is unknown.