Jefferson Barracks Bridge, Road bridge across Mississippi River between Illinois and Missouri, United States
The Jefferson Barracks Bridge is a road bridge that crosses the Mississippi River between Illinois and Missouri, built as a tied-arch structure with two parallel spans. It carries six lanes of traffic and connects two major highway routes, while leaving enough clearance beneath for river vessels.
The first permanent crossing at this spot opened in 1944 as a steel truss bridge built during wartime. The current tied-arch structure replaced it in two phases, with the northern span finished in 1983 and the southern one completed in 1992.
The bridge takes its name from Jefferson Barracks, a former military post on the Missouri side that is now home to a national cemetery still in active use. Crossing the bridge, drivers pass directly above the area where the old military grounds once extended to the riverbank.
The bridge is open around the clock for through traffic, so expect heavy flow during morning and evening rush hours. Those wanting to stop and take in the river view can find parking areas on the Missouri side near Jefferson Barracks Park.
Before any permanent bridge existed here, the Davis Street Ferry from the Carondelet neighborhood was the only way to cross the river at this spot. That ferry service has been largely forgotten today, even though it was once a daily routine for many local workers and travelers.
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