Mo. Rev. Stat. § 229.420: Temporary abandonment of public road to permit mining.

Where coal or other valuable mineral underlies any public road in this state that has not been designated as a state highway or is not under the control of the state transportation department, if said coal or other mineral is being mined on or from adjoining lands by the "strip pit" or surface process of mining, the commissioners of any special road district or the township board of directors if said road be not located in a special road district may provide for the temporary abandonment of said road and the removal or mining of said coal or other valuable mineral underlying said road and the rebuilding of said road, in the manner and under the conditions provided in sections 229.420 to 229.450, when in the opinion of said commissioners or township board the public good would best be served thereby.