Chain of Rocks Bridge

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**Chain of Rocks Bridge**

Carries	Pedestrians and bicycles
Crosses	Mississippi River
Locale	St. Louis, Missouri
Maintained by	Trailnet
Design	Cantilever through-truss
Total length	5,350 ft
Width	24 ft
Opening date	1929
Maps and aerial photos Street map from Google Maps or Yahoo! Maps Topographic map from TopoZone Aerial image or topographic map from TerraServer-USA Satellite image from Google Maps or Microsoft Virtual Earth

The Chain of Rocks Bridge is a bridge spanning the Mississippi River on the north edge of St. Louis, Missouri. It was the most famous crossing of Route 66 over the river. Its most famous feature is a 22-degree bend occurring at the middle of the crossing, necessary for navigation on the river. The name comes from a "chain" of rocks crossing the Mississippi just below the bridge — an exposure of bedrock creating rapids in the river (photo below). Originally a motor route, it now carries walking and biking trails over the river.

[edit] History

The bridge was privately built as a toll bridge in 1929 at a cost of US$2.5 million and later turned over to the city of Madison, Illinois, the current owner of the bridge. In the late 1930s, Bypass US 66 was designated over this bridge and around the northern and western parts of St. Louis to avoid the downtown city (City US 66 continued to cross the Mississippi River over the MacArthur Bridge). Eventually, the toll was removed from the bridge due to a law prohibiting the collecting of tolls on US Highways. In 1967, a new set of bridges New Chain of Rocks Bridge was built to the north to carry I-270, and in 1967 the Chain of Rocks Bridge was closed.

In 1981, the bridge was used in the shooting of the movie Escape from New York, along with other sites in St. Louis. Since its closing, the bridge developed a reputation for crime and violence, including the 1991 rape and murder of the Kerry Sisters.

In the mid 1990's, a Bigfoot monster truck drove over the "chain of rocks" adjacent to the chain of rocks bridge.

For nearly three decades the fate of the bridge was uncertain, though demolition seemed its most likely end. The high cost of demolition, however, indefinitely delayed that outcome until a new use was found. Four and a half million dollars have been spent on renovating the bridge for pedestrian and cycling use. In 1998, the bridge was leased to a local trails group to operate.[1] Occasionally motor tours for various Route 66 groups will be allowed use of the bridge.

From the Illinois side of the bridge, signs marked "HISTORIC ROUTE 66 SPUR" take travelers to the Illinois side of the bridge and a "HISTORIC ROUTE 66" sign marks the Missouri side of the bridge. The Gateway Arch is visible downriver; and, immediately below the bridge, two water intakes for the St. Louis Waterworks are visible (see Gallery): one is vaguely Gothic Revival in style, the other closely echoes Roman ruins from Trier in modern France. There is a possibility of the bridge being placed on the National Register of Historic Places.