Route 66 was a mostly two lane highway that extended from Chicago to Los Angeles, through Illinois, Missouri, Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, and California, before gradually giving up to the modern interstate. Most of the old pavement is still there, and can be followed with the right maps and directions. I drove the entire length of old 66 in 2012, and invite you to follow along!
Friday, September 7, 2012
Route 66 - Chain of Rocks Bridge
Chain of Rocks Bridge, 2006
Chain of Rocks Bridge, 2006
ON THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER. This 2012 trip was
my third attempt to find the Illinois side of the Chain of Rocks Bridge,
and I failed again. I had my usual turn by turn directions, two
different guide books, and I also Google mapped the route in
exquisite detail, all to no avail. I just couldn't find it. Since I was
taking an alignment that bypassed downtown St. Louis and the bridge (west on I-270, then
south on 61/67), I had to cancel my planned walk across the Mississippi. These
photos are from 2006, when I approached the bridge from the Missouri side.
One left turn off of old 66 is all that is needed from that side. The
Chain of Rocks bridge is one of the most famous crossings on Route
66, and cross it I did in 2006, hoofing it from the Missouri side all the way back
to Illinois. Built in 1929, the famous bend in the bridge was necessary
for the Mississippi River traffic below it, but a real hazard to the
oversize automobiles of the 1940's and 50's. The actual rocks the bridge
was named for are
somewhere nearby in the river, but I could never find them. One last
bit of trivia: A chase scene in the movie "Escape from New York" was
filmed on the bridge, and having walked or driven over most of the
bridges to Manhattan, all I can say is, that was a real stretch.
I've never walked across all the way, only to the halfway point. It's probably good that you used the old photos, because in my recent times of being out there on the Illinois side, it's shown signs of vandalism.
I've never walked across all the way, only to the halfway point. It's probably good that you used the old photos, because in my recent times of being out there on the Illinois side, it's shown signs of vandalism.
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