HistoricBridges.org Bridge Locator

Carries Canadian National Railroad over Kaskaskia River
Design: truss/through/warren
Design Details: Riveted, 8-panel Warren through truss
Total Length: 0.0 Feet
Span Length: 0.0 Feet

Overview: Through truss railroad bridge over the Kaskaskia River on the CNRR west of Baldwin next to IL 154
History:
Built: 1972

Chester Bridge

Status: Open to two-lane traffic
Slated for demolition and replacement by 2028. Interim rehab from September 7, 2021 to November 1, 2022; MoDOT is accepting proposals for reuse

Carries MO 51 over Mississippi River
Design: truss/through/warren/sub-panels
Design Details: Main spans: Two-span continuous Warren through truss Approaches: Warren deck trusses
Total Length: 2826.4 Feet
Span Length: 669.8 Feet

Overview: Through and deck truss bridge over the Mississippi River on MO 51/IL 150 at Chester
History: Opened Aug. 23, 1942 as a toll bridge. Main span destroyed by severe thunderstorm July 29, 1944; reopened Aug. 24, 1946. Tolls removed Jan. 1, 1989.
Built: 1946

The pipeline that crosses the Mississippi River at Chester on the Chester Bridge curve is in the foreground east end of the Chester bridge.

UP - Gage Junction Bridge

Carries Union Pacific Railroad over Kaskaskia River
Design: truss/through/polygonal/verticals
Design Details: Warren through truss with a Camelback profile
Total Length: 1379.0 Feet
Span Length: 240.0 Feet

Overview: Through truss railroad bridge over the Kaskaskia River just above the Lock and Dam northwest of Chester
History: Built 1976
Built: 1976

Mary's River Covered Bridge 13-79-01

Carries over Little Mary's River
Design: truss/through/burr
Design Details: Covered Burr arch-truss
Total Length: 0.0 Feet
Span Length: 86.0 Feet

Overview: Covered bridge over Little Mary's River northeast of Chester, just off IL 150
History: Built 1854; carried traffic until 1930; rehabilitated 1954 and 2004-05
Built: 1854

Built in 1854, in continuous service from 1854-1930. Was originally part of a planned toll road between Bremen and Chester. All of the timber in the bridge is the original with the exceptions of the floor, floor joist, roof, and siding. Acquired by the State of Illinois in 1936 for purposes of preservation and a picnic area. Money for purchase of site was donated by Chester Chamber of Commerce.

A sprinkler system, plus new steel joints, look out of place against the older wooden members

An entirely new layer of load-bearing steel stringers has been installed underneath the bridge

UP - Marys River Bridge

Carries Union Pacific Railroad over Marys River
Design: truss/through/pratt
Design Details: 6-panel Pratt through truss
Total Length: 0.0 Feet
Span Length: 0.0 Feet

Overview: Through truss bridge over Marys River on the Union Pacific Railroad, south of Chester and just west of IL 3
History:
Built:

Piney Branch Bridge

Carries Piney Creek Road (TR 256) over Piney Branch
Design: truss/bedstead/pratt
Design Details: Pin-connected, 2-panel Pratt bedstead pony truss
Total Length: 34.1 Feet
Span Length: 34.1 Feet

Overview: Lost bedstead pony truss bridge over Piney Branch on Piney Creek Road
History: Built 1901; bypassed by new bridge in 2002; removed 2009
Built: 1901

Riley Lake Bridge

Carries Kaskaskia Street (FAS 861) over Riley Creek
Design: truss/through/pratt
Design Details: Pin-connected, 5-panel Pratt through truss
Total Length: 0.0 Feet
Span Length: 0.0 Feet

Overview: Pratt through truss bridge over Riley Creek on Kaskaskia Street (FAS 861) north of Fort Kaskaskia State Park
History: Built 1893; bypassed 1979
Built: 1893

Rock Bridge

Carries Rock Bridge Road over Tributary to Mississippi River
Design: arch/deck/brick
Design Details: Brick arch
Total Length: 0.0 Feet
Span Length: 13.0 Feet

Overview: Abandoned stone and brick arch bridge over Tributary to Mississippi River on Rock Bridge Road in Chester, SE of the courthouse
History:
Built:

This postcard is captioned, "Stone Bridge on Road to Penitentiary, Chester, ill."

This historic photo, showing three unidentified ladies standing next to the bridge, was submitted by Harriet Parker Kuehne

Route 3 Culvert

Carries over
Design: unknown
Design Details:
Total Length: 0.0 Feet
Span Length: 0.0 Feet

Plum Creek Bridge

Carries TR 166 over Plum Creek
Design: truss/pony
Design Details: Pony truss
Total Length: 33.1 Feet
Span Length: 29.9 Feet

Overview: Pony truss bridge over Plum Creek on TR 166
History: Built 1928
Built: 1928

Plum Creek Bridge

Carries Lessley Road (TR 67) over Branch of Plum Creek
Design: truss/deck
Design Details: Deck truss
Total Length: 64.0 Feet
Span Length: 47.9 Feet

Overview: Lost deck truss bridge over a branch of Plum Creek on Lessley Road (TR 67)
History: Built 1901; replaced 1992
Built: 1901

Plum Creek Bridge

Carries TR 39 over Branch of Plum Creek
Design: truss/deck
Design Details: Deck truss
Total Length: 32.2 Feet
Span Length: 29.9 Feet

Overview: Lost or abandoned deck truss bridge over a branch of Plum Creek on TR 39
History: Built 1897
Built: 1897

Plum Creek Bridge

Carries Blinds Hollow Road over Branch of Little Plum
Design: truss/deck
Design Details: Deck truss (?)
Total Length: 49.9 Feet
Span Length: 48.9 Feet

Overview: Lost or abandoned deck truss bridge over a branch of Little Plum on Blinds Hollow Road
History:
Built:

Little Marys River Bridge

Carries TR 196 over Branch of Little Marys
Design: truss
Design Details: Truss (?)
Total Length: 45.9 Feet
Span Length: 29.9 Feet

Overview: Lost truss bridge over of branch of Little Marys on TR 196
History: Built ca. 1901
Built: ca. 1901

Evansville Bridge

Carries over Kaskaskia River
Design: truss/through/pratt
Design Details: Pratt through truss swing
Total Length: 0.0 Feet
Span Length: 0.0 Feet

Overview: Lost Two Span Pratt through truss bridge over Kaskaskia River in Evansville
History: Built 1885. Razed 1927.
Built: 1885

Wilson Road Bridge

Carries Wilson Road (TR 47A) over Branch of To Plum Creek
Design: slab
Design Details: Slab
Total Length: 25.9 Feet
Span Length: 24.0 Feet

Overview: Concrete slab bridge over a branch of Plum Creek on TR 47A
History: Built 1901; rehabilitated 1982
Built: 1901

UP - Water Street Overpass

Carries Union Pacific Railroad over Water Street (IL 3 Truck Bypass)
Design: beam/stringer/steel
Design Details: Steel stringer
Total Length: 282.2 Feet
Span Length: 49.9 Feet

Overview: Steel stringer bridge over Water Street (IL 3 Truck Bypass) on Union Pacific Railroad
History: Built 1956
Built: 1956

MP - Chester Arch Bridge

Carries Missouri Pacific Railroad over Unnamed tributary of Mississippi River
Design: arch/deck/closed
Design Details: Closed-spandrel arch
Total Length: 0.0 Feet
Span Length: 0.0 Feet

Overview: Abandoned closed-spandrel arch bridge over Unnamed tributary of Mississippi River on Missouri Pacific Railroad
History:
Built:

UP - IL154 Overpass

Carries Union Pacific Railroad over Illinois 154
Design: beam/stringer/steel
Design Details: Steel stringer
Total Length: 131.9 Feet
Span Length: 45.9 Feet

Overview: Steel stringer bridge over Illinois 154 on Union Pacific Railroad
History: Built 1938
Built: 1938

Maple Hollow Bridge

Carries Bluff Road over Maple Hollow
Design: arch/deck/stone
Design Details: Stone arch - one span remains (but is partially filled in), one or more other spans missing
Total Length: 0.0 Feet
Span Length: 0.0 Feet

Overview: Abandoned stone arch bridge over Maple Hollow on Bluff Road
History:
Built:

MP - Gage Junction Swing Bridge

Carries Missouri Pacific Railroad over Kaskaskia River
Design: truss/through/pratt
Design Details: Pratt through truss swing
Total Length: 0.0 Feet
Span Length: 0.0 Feet

Overview: Pratt through truss swing bridge over Kaskaskia River on Missouri Pacific Railroad
History: Built 1903 ; replaced 1975
Built: 1903

Originally published by the Mt. Vernon Register/Associated Press; Used under Fair Use

Locust Street Bridge

Carries Locust Street over Cox Creek
Design: slab
Design Details: Concrete slab (?)
Total Length: 23.6 Feet
Span Length: 20.7 Feet

Overview: Slab bridge over Cox Creek on Locust Street
History: Built 1926
Built: 1926

Robinson Creek Bridge

Carries TR 223 over Robinson Creek
Design: slab
Design Details: Slab
Total Length: 27.9 Feet
Span Length: 25.9 Feet

Overview: Slab bridge over Robinson Creek on TR 223
History: Built 1901
Built: 1901

Rock Creek Bridge

Carries TR 208 A over Rock Creek
Design: slab
Design Details: Slab
Total Length: 47.9 Feet
Span Length: 23.6 Feet

Overview: Slab bridge over Rock Creek on TR 208 A
History: Built 1901
Built: 1901

UP - Church Street Overpass

Carries Union Pacific Railroad over Church Street (Old IL 3)
Design: slab
Design Details: Slab
Total Length: 26.9 Feet
Span Length: 24.9 Feet

Overview: Slab bridge over Church Street (Old IL 3) on Union Pacific Railroad
History: Built 1929
Built: 1929

Haul Road Bridge

Carries Mine hauling/access road over Canadian National Railway
Design: girder/pony/plate
Design Details: Pony plate girder (?) with timber deck
Total Length: 0.0 Feet
Span Length: 0.0 Feet

Overview: Girder bridge over Canadian National Railway on a mine hauling/access road north of Percy
History:
Built:

GM&O - Kaskaskia River Bridge

Carries Gulf, Mobile & Ohio Railway over Kaskaskia River (former channel)
Design: unknown
Design Details:
Total Length: 0.0 Feet
Span Length: 0.0 Feet

Overview: Lost bridge over Kaskaskia River (former channel) on Gulf, Mobile & Ohio Railway west of Baldwin
History: Built ca. 1906; Removed in the 1970s after the river was rechanneled
Built: 1906

UP - Lock & Dam Rd Overpass

Carries UPRR (former Missouri Pacific) over Lock & Dam Rd
Design: girder/deck/plate
Design Details: Deck plate girder
Total Length: 185.0 Feet
Span Length: 65.0 Feet

Overview: Deck plate girder bridge over Lock & Dam Rd on UPRR (former Missouri Pacific)
History: Built 1975
Built: 1975

Kaskaskia Bridge

Carries Kaskaskia-Cahokia Road over Kaskaskia River
Design: unknown
Design Details: Unknown design -- may have been a multi-span timber covered bridge
Total Length: 0.0 Feet
Span Length: 0.0 Feet

Overview: Lost bridge over Kaskaskia River on Kaskaskia-Cahokia Road
History:
Built:

The historic marker doesn't give a source for this drawing, but it appears to be based on a lithograph by J.C. Wild

UP - Ninemile Creek Bridge

Carries Union Pacific Railroad over Ninemile Creek
Design: truss/deck
Design Details: Deck truss (?)
Total Length: 0.0 Feet
Span Length: 0.0 Feet

Overview: Deck truss bridge over Ninemile Creek on Union Pacific Railroad
History:
Built:

MP - Roots Swing Bridge

Carries Missouri Pacific Railroad over Kaskaskia River
Design: truss/through/parker
Design Details: Parker through truss
Total Length: 0.0 Feet
Span Length: 0.0 Feet

Overview: Lost Parker through truss bridge over Kaskaskia River on Missouri Pacific Railroad
History: Built 1903; Destroyed by derailment 1970
Built: 1903

Originally published by the Mt. Vernon Register/Associated Press; Used under Fair Use

Special Bridge Conditions Legend: R - Former location of relocated bridge. ! - At risk for demolition or destruction. X - Confirmed demolished or collapsed. S - Dismantled and/or in storage. L - Severe loss of historic integrity due to alteration.

Bridges Found: 31

CN - Kaskaskia River Bridge (Baldwin)

Chester Bridge

UP - Gage Junction Bridge

Mary's River Covered Bridge 13-79-01

UP - Marys River Bridge

Piney Branch Bridge

Riley Lake Bridge

Rock Bridge

Route 3 Culvert

Plum Creek Bridge

Plum Creek Bridge

Plum Creek Bridge

Plum Creek Bridge

Little Marys River Bridge

Evansville Bridge

Wilson Road Bridge

UP - Water Street Overpass

MP - Chester Arch Bridge

UP - IL154 Overpass

Maple Hollow Bridge

MP - Gage Junction Swing Bridge

Locust Street Bridge

Robinson Creek Bridge

Rock Creek Bridge

UP - Church Street Overpass

Haul Road Bridge

GM&O - Kaskaskia River Bridge

UP - Lock & Dam Rd Overpass

Kaskaskia Bridge

UP - Ninemile Creek Bridge

MP - Roots Swing Bridge

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