Old Chain of Rocks Bridge

Walk out over the Mississippi on the bridge Route 66 once drove. Opened in 1929 and added to the highway in 1936, this mile-long steel crossing had to bend around unstable bedrock and the river’s water-intake towers—creating its unforgettable turn high above the water. It survived wartime camouflage, a 1968 vehicle closure, and even proposed demolition before reopening in 1999 for people on foot and bicycle. Pause at the bend for the intake towers, trusses, and broad river view, then imagine the tollbooth and stream of cross-country cars that once met here.Current access note (August 25, 2026): the Illinois canal bridge is closed for construction through early October, so the Old Chain of Rocks Bridge is accessible from the Missouri side only. I-270 exits to Riverview Drive are also temporarily closed; follow Great Rivers Greenway’s posted detour and recheck conditions before traveling. The park is open daily from 7 a.m. until 30 minutes after sunset unless otherwise posted. The historic bridge is for pedestrians and bicyclists only—no unauthorized motor vehicles or overnight parking. More

Walk out over the Mississippi on the bridge Route 66 once drove. Opened in 1929 and added to the highway in 1936, this mile-long steel crossing had to bend around unstable bedrock and the river’s water-intake towers—creating its unforgettable turn high above the water. It survived wartime camouflage, a 1968 vehicle closure, and even proposed demolition before reopening in 1999 for people on foot and bicycle. Pause at the bend for the intake towers, trusses, and broad river view, then imagine the tollbooth and stream of cross-country cars that once met here.Current access note (August 25, 2026): the Illinois canal bridge is closed for construction through early October, so the Old Chain of Rocks Bridge is accessible from the Missouri side only. I-270 exits to Riverview Drive are also temporarily closed; follow Great Rivers Greenway’s posted detour and recheck conditions before traveling. The park is open daily from 7 a.m. until 30 minutes after sunset unless otherwise posted. The historic bridge is for pedestrians and bicyclists only—no unauthorized motor vehicles or overnight parking. More