Which bridge carried Route 66 across the Mississippi River north of St. Louis?

The Chain of Rocks Bridge carried Route 66 across the Mississippi River north of St. Louis.

Built in 1929, the bridge connected Missouri with Chouteau Island and Madison, Illinois. It became part of the bypass alignment of Route 66, allowing motorists to avoid driving through central St. Louis. The bridge is especially memorable because its roadway makes an unusual 22-degree bend in the middle of the crossing.

The name comes from the Chain of Rocks, a rocky stretch of the Mississippi that made navigation difficult. The bridge was originally a toll crossing, but its tolls were suspended in 1966. Vehicle traffic moved to the newer New Chain of Rocks Bridge, and the older structure closed to automobiles in 1970.

The historic bridge is now used by pedestrians and cyclists. It is often confused with the McKinley Bridge, which carried an earlier Route 66 alignment closer to downtown St. Louis.