Bellefontaine Bridge, Railway bridge in St. Louis County and St. Charles County, Missouri, United States.
The Bellefontaine Bridge is a railroad crossing over the Missouri River that spans between two counties in Missouri. It consists of four equal sections held up by masonry supports that reach deep into the rock below.
The railroad company commissioned this structure in 1892 and construction finished in late 1893 under a major steel manufacturer. This project represented an important step forward in expanding rail lines across the region.
The bridge serves as a vital connection for regional rail traffic and moves people and goods across the river on a daily basis. It has become part of the landscape here and supports the transportation needs that communities and businesses depend on.
This is an active railroad facility managed by BNSF Railway, so public access across it is not permitted. You can view the structure from the riverbanks or nearby roads without interfering with train operations.
The bridge uses a Baltimore truss design with extra lower bracing that prevents the structure from sagging under heavy train loads. This engineering detail makes it a good example of construction techniques from that era.
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