Chester Bridge, Road truss bridge in Chester, Illinois.
The Chester Bridge spans 2,826 feet across the Mississippi River, connecting Chester, Illinois with Perryville, Missouri through two main spans and twelve approach spans.
Built in 1942 at a cost of $1.385 million, the bridge underwent reconstruction after a severe storm destroyed its main span in July 1944.
The bridge stands near the Chester Welcome Center in Segar Park, named after E.C. Segar, who created the character Popeye based on local stories.
The structure carries approximately 6,400 vehicles daily across its two 11-foot lanes, operating under a 25-ton weight restriction due to its current condition.
A new $284 million replacement structure, named the Don Welge Memorial Bridge, began construction in September 2023 with a three-tower cable-stayed design.
Location: Illinois
Location: Missouri
Inception: August 23, 1942
Official opening: August 23, 1942
GPS coordinates: 37.90310,-89.83640
Latest update: September 23, 2025 16:45
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