Old Chain of Rocks Bridge Rt66

CherylL · Sep 24, 2023

The old bridge is now a walking/bike trail over the Mississippi River. It has a sharp turn near the MO side. It was scary to ride in a car over this bridge, very narrow.

1.

2. Water intake towers built around 1900

3. Pano looking South

4. Pano looking North. A new bridge is being built next the I-270 bridge

Jeff15 · Sep 25, 2023

Interesting shots....

CherylL · Sep 25, 2023

Jeff15 said:
Interesting shots....

Thanks Jeff

smoke665 · Sep 26, 2023

I can remember driving across it once. I hadn't had my licence all that many years, definitely not for the faint of heart. I think the same architect designed the one at Cape Giradeau, they where very similar. I was surprised to see they're building a new bridge for 270 till I realized it's already 57 yrs old.

CherylL · Sep 27, 2023

smoke665 said:
I can remember driving across it once. I hadn't had my licence all that many years, definitely not for the faint of heart. I think the same architect designed the one at Cape Giradeau, they where very similar. I was surprised to see they're building a new bridge for 270 till I realized it's already 57 yrs old.

time flies! Hard to believe it is 57 years old. The oldest bridge that crosses the Mississippi is the Eads Bridge downtown St Louis. Back in the 70s I took that to work sometimes. The decking was missing in spots and you drove over the girders. Could see the river. Now it is updated and the rail road that was suspended under the bridge is now used for MetroLink.

A cropped version of a frame from the pano. Interesting to see how they put in the foundation.

thecoastallens · Sep 27, 2023

I really like the first image, the bridges structure has created really interesting areas of light and dark.

smoke665 · Sep 27, 2023

@CherylL an interesting feature of the bridge not shown in your shot is the 22 degree bend in the middle. Doesn't sound like much, till you drove it!

CherylL · Sep 27, 2023

thecoastallens said:
I really like the first image, the bridges structure has created really interesting areas of light and dark.

I think it would make a good location for senior portraits.
A close up of the rust

CherylL · Sep 27, 2023

smoke665 said:
@CherylL an interesting feature of the bridge not shown in your shot is the 22 degree bend in the middle. Doesn't sound like much, till you drove it!

The bend is in my photo from last year. There was a car show on the bridge.

Chain of Rocks Bridge by Cheryl, on Flickr

John 2 · Sep 28, 2023

Interesting back story. How they build bridge foundation in deep water is beyond me.

vintagesnaps · Sep 28, 2023

I like the first one with the shadows (and rust!).

Those water towers look miniaturized. Being in water with not much else for frame of reference it's hard to tell the actual size. Cool photo of them.

Don Fischer · Sep 28, 2023

Though I might have been across that one years ago. Was driving a road truck pulling a 45' Reefer trailer and had to go around the Missouri weight station. Calling that bridge narrow would be an under statement. Passed another truck coming at me and our tire's rubbed on the curd and still just barely missed hitting our mirror's! narrowest bridge I'd ever seen that allowed trucks on it! Wasn't that one in the photo though as it didn't have a curve anywhere just straight across!

CherylL · Sep 28, 2023

John 2 said:
Interesting back story. How they build bridge foundation in deep water is beyond me.

There were several barges with workers. A large boat on the shore took supplies and workers to each station.

vintagesnaps said:
I like the first one with the shadows (and rust!).

Those water towers look miniaturized. Being in water with not much else for frame of reference it's hard to tell the actual size. Cool photo of them.

Love the rust too! The buildings do look small in the water, but I think they are large 2 stories not counting the base. Would love to take a tour if they offered.

Don Fischer said:
Though I might have been across that one years ago. Was driving a road truck pulling a 45' Reefer trailer and had to go around the Missouri weight station. Calling that bridge narrow would be an under statement. Passed another truck coming at me and our tire's rubbed on the curd and still just barely missed hitting our mirror's! narrowest bridge I'd ever seen that allowed trucks on it! Wasn't that one in the photo though as it didn't have a curve anywhere just straight across!

Wow, scary drive for you! When my Dad drove over the bridge we all had to remain quiet. I wouldn't want to drive over it. The oldest bridge in St Louis and oldest over the Mississippi is the Eads Bridge. That one is still in use today. I think it is somewhat wider. There was another old narrow bridge in Alton. It was torn down when the new one was built. Maybe you went on one of those two?