(OLD) Chain of Rocks Bridge

allisont13 (Atlas Obscura User)

A bridge built for a US 66 Bypass around downtown St. Louis, this bridge has a hitch in its’ giddy-up. A 22 degree(30 degrees according to Google maps) turn in the middle of this bridge shows you that a straight line might be the shortest distance between two points, but may not have been the best answer in 1929 when this bridge opened to traffic.

This bridge was originally a toll bridge from Madison, IL to St. Louis, MO. Originally built as a private works project, it was later turned over to the city of Madison. The tolls were collected from the initial open of the bridge until August 1966. When the New Chain of Rocks bridge(I 270) opened in September of 1966, the days of vehicle traffic on the old bridge were numbered. The old bridge was closed in early 1970.

As fate would have it, a decline in steel prices forced a whole lot of inactivity on the decision to demolish the bridge. About 28 years later a lease was signed with a local trail group to rehabilitate the bridge into the local bike/pedestrian trail-ways.

Best of a shed situation(?!?): The port a johns on the Missouri side are in a shed type housing that has a Route 66 themed mural (and additional added graffiti.)

A couple of caveats: the bridge is owned by the city of Madison Illinois but crosses the Mississippi west of Granite City. The road leading to the eastern end of the bridge is W. Chain of Rocks rd. which can be accessed from the old Alton road or Nameoki Rd IL Rte 203… just minutes from the Luna Cafe.

There was also a movie that used it as a set in 1981-“Escape from New York”.

Know Before You Go

Easiest way to the bridge is on the Illinois side, take W. Chain of Rocks road west of Illinois rte 3. You must cross the 2 lane(one car lane plus one bike/pedestrian lane.) Canal Bridge over the Chain of Rocks Canal to Chouteau Island, follow the road to the parking lot. The bridge is straight ahead. The last road south just prior to the bridge parking will take you to the Chouteau Island fishing area which is the best spot to take a photo of the bridge bend from ground level.
Not as easy- taking the bike/walk trails from the St. Lois side of the Mississippi river.
Hardest-while there appears to be ample space for parking on the Glasgow Village/Riverview area north of St. Louis , this is not the case. Jersey wall block was placed on Riverview Dr. (maybe one or two parking places, this was done to prevent parking on MO side due to vehicular vandalism according to local news stories around 2006-2008.)