Old Clark Bridge

The Old Clark Bridge was a steel truss structure that spanned the Mississippi River between West Alton and Alton. It carried two traffic lanes across its entire length.

The bridge was constructed in 1927 and 1928 and served as a vital link between the two states for many decades. It was replaced in 1994 when a newer structure rendered the older crossing obsolete.

The bridge served as an everyday crossing that connected communities across the river for generations. People used it daily to visit family, commute to work, and maintain relationships with neighbors on the opposite bank.

The bridge was accessed via U.S. Route 67, which originally ran across the structure. Today visitors can still see the location where the span once crossed the river.

The bridge required two major overhauls between 1959 and 1975 before finally succumbing to controlled explosives. These extensive repairs revealed how heavily the structure was used and how much it aged over time.

Location: Illinois

Inception: 1928

Official opening: 1928

GPS coordinates: 38.88360,-90.18250

Latest update: December 11, 2025 18:06