McKinley Bridge, Road bridge between St. Louis, Missouri and Venice, Illinois, United States.
McKinley Bridge is a road bridge that crosses the Mississippi River between St. Louis, Missouri and Venice, Illinois. The structure combines three main steel truss spans with additional steel plate girder spans that carry traffic and provide separate paths for pedestrians and cyclists.
Construction began in 1910 as a bridge for the Illinois Traction, an electric interurban railroad, and was later adapted for road traffic. It later became part of the original Route 66 and connected these two shores during the early transportation era.
The bridge connects two communities and is used daily by commuters, pedestrians, and cyclists traveling between the northern sections of St. Louis and Venice. It serves as an everyday meeting point where people cross paths during their daily routines.
The bridge is accessible from Illinois Route 3 on the Illinois side and at the intersection of Salisbury and North 9th Street in St. Louis. The structure handles heavy traffic during rush hours, so planning your crossing time helps avoid congestion.
The bridge's name comes not from US President William McKinley, but from the Illinois Electric Traction Association, which surprises many visitors. This naming choice is often misunderstood and reflects an interesting piece of local history.
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