Crossing the Chain of Rocks Bridge

The Chain of Rocks Bridge carried Route 66 across the Mississippi River from 1929 until it closed in 1970. It was abandoned for decades before restoration took place in the late 90s to make it a pedestrian crossing.
On special occasions, it's re-opened to car traffic! The music playing is from the soundtrack to Escape from New York, the cult classic John Carpenter movie that was filmed on the bridge.
Read more here: rhysfunk.com/2017/06/13/on-th...

[@MDinmyMind]

In the 1950s and 60s we traveled this bridge each summer on our trip from Maryland to St Louis to visit my grandparents. I remember it well! I knew when we got to the bridge, we were almost there.

[@rhondal1]

As a kid back in the mid to late 1950's I remember quite well going across this bridge! Of course it was 2- way traffic! I remember being a bit creeped out about the mid- bridge turn, it looked like oncoming cars were going to collide with us.

[@cookiemonster3706]

It was a special place for myself and my boyfriend Todd back in the early 80’s. We went there often to hang out. He passed away in 1986. I went to the bridge after he passed and wrote a memorial on the pavement. Unfortunately when they made it a historical site, they covered up my memorial.

[@terryg995]

I remember first seeing the bridge in '76 crossing over the 270 when my grandfather was telling us about the water intake towers and Bald Eagles flying north to the Dakotasin the summer. I always wanted to go there, but he said it was closed. Over the years, I always had an eerie feeling about it. While still a grad student (University of Alabama) back in 1993 I visited my grandparents over Spring Break and took a chance and went to this bridge (alone). I remember passing two cars on the road going the other way on Route 3, but I didn't pay it any mind. I got there and saw how overgrown everything was and there was a lock on the gate (Illinois side anyway). I took my camera to photograph those intake towers. I locked my doors and headed for the gates; I managed to squeeze through (no small feat) and started to walk along the bridge. I had the most awkward and eerie feeling walking along this bridge . I was experiencing something like narrow vision or vertigo. I noticed two huge eagles flying overhead and thought "at this time of the year, in March "(odd). But they landed on the bridge rails and I was shocked. I guess I never really knew how big a Bald Eagle could be. they were huge. One took off from the railing and landed behind me and the other was forward of me when he jumped down. It was a loud thud sound made by both on this steel bridge. They started moving towards me and at first I wasn't afraid. I just started taking pictures of those towers, until they started screeching. The sound was unsettling, So I started to move away across the other side of the bridge and heading back to me car. I started walking and I could hear their talons on the steel bridge and I sped up until I was running. These birds were chasing me off the bridge. Well, I managed to squeeze through the gates again and made it to my car. As I was leaving out towards Route 3, I saw those same two cars from earlier (an old 1970s green Deuce and a Quarter and old red Roadmaster), they turned around and followed me. My car was too fast for them and I lost them with speed. Well when I got back to my grandparents, KDSK was showing these two car loads of thugs being arrested by Madison Police or Illinois State Police with a carload of firearms. It seemed they had been robbing people who ventured out to this bridge. when I told my grandmother about this. She told me the eagles were the sisters warning me off the bridge saving my life. I had no idea what she was talking about. Then until a few years later I saw this documentary on A & E about two sisters raped and thrown off the bridge by four suspects in 1991. Then I learned the whole story about the Chain of Rocks Bridge murders. I still want to see what's in those towers, but now I have seen pictures and that mystery is over. Until this day, I have not ventured anywhere near that bridge.

[@Rhys]

Wow, that is an incredible story! Thank you for sharing. I only experienced the bridge after it had been restored for pedestrian use.

[@terryg995]

That bridge is a scary place to be alone. I'd advise anyone going to go in a group or especially when there is an organized activity by Trailnet like Eagle Days or something. They break into cars on the Missouri side and the Illinois side is so desolate and woody. Neither side is good choice, but i'll take Illinois. Considering the historical significance of the bridge as part of Route 66, you'd thin both sides would put more effort into preserving the place and its surroundings.

[@terryg995]

I know I still think about it from time to time, and I get shaken by the event. I was scared off a bridge by bald eagles and my grandmother says they were the spirits of the two sisters trying to save me.

[@keathrhymer5449]

I remeber this bridge from when I was a kid in the 60s and went from NC to Missouri to see grandparents we went across sit several times

[@wi54725]

One of the highlights of my adult life was driving across this bridge during the IL Route 66 Association Tour in 2014. I cannot imagine how 2, 18-wheelers ever passed on this bridge.

[@terryg995]

Back in those days, cars were not as wide, but still someone had to back up.. usually the car.

[@58fins]

Imagine back in the day, in an old car with the old incandescent headlights, crossing that bridge, on a rainy night--and coming to that bend! Yikes!

[@USAMontanan]

We walked across it back in May of 2018. Found the Virtual Geocache located in the center. The water intakes are amazing! I can’t imagine building them! Nice video! What a treat to drive across it!

[@rtrobinson88321]

I live old bridges. Thank you so much for the video

[@joshuabrooks4907]

What a cool looking old bridge.

[@ponchoman49]

mazing bridge and on my bucket list of must visit trips.

[@2bigbufords]

what engineer thought it would be a good idea to put a curve/offset in a bridge ?

[@EDBZ28]

very cool! Never heard of this bridge until now...very creepy looking to me.

[@RonHutchCraft2]

legend has it they are still on the bridge.

[@albertringshauser7267]

Thanks for the trip across the bridge. Very nice. Peace

[@generalkickass6385]

He is playing the right song for this video out of the movie escape from new York because part of the film scenes from the movie where shot on that bridge

[@shirleybalinski4535]

Good Lord, how long is this bridge. Very odd construction( that bend). Maybe to off set poor surveyinng....the bridge didn't meet? Is is built on rock formations in the River, hence it's name?

[@Rhys]

It's just over 5,000 ft long. The reason it bends is due to protests from riverboat captains, detailing the treacherous conditions navigating the concrete piers and the nearby water intake towers.

[@Tracks777]

Nice video!

[@backwardk]

Those signs and gas pump in the middle of the bridge look absolutely ridiculous sitting there.

[@stevemeinecke]

That's fantastic

[@carolynmyers2222]

I wondered if this bridge was still around. Thanks so much. Great to see it again. It seem so little now. As a child I thought it was bigger. Wow

[@Rhys]

They've done a great job restoring it for pedestrian use. Missouri is about to invest a lot of money in sprucing up their side, too.

[@r.pres.4121]

Hopefully the steel truss work will get a thorough cleaning and paint job.

[@JeffreyStrader]

We have dilapidated bridges like that all over Oklahoma......

[@sandrarobert1456]

GREAT VIDEO BUT THE MUSIC IS TOO LOUD

[@Anthony_Spilotro]

Is the the same bridge where the murders took place in the early 90s?

[@Rhys]

Yes it is. They have a little plaque that talks about the two girls that died.

[@terryg995]

I know the music was from the movie, but man was that a corny touch. If you're Snake Plissken speeding across the 69th Street Bridge at night in Old New York in an old Yellow Cab with two guys a female with a rack that won't quit, while being pursued by "The Duke" it works. Unfortunately, it's lost here. But anyway, I like the views you filmed.

[@aceaventura427]

You are lucky to have done that

[@scruffstuff9903]

It turns half way? Not sure about that part c h i e f

[@chooch1995]

I did this in ‘18! What year is this crossing?

[@Rhys]

This was in 2017

[@speedlearner]

This is a cool video and I do plan to visit the bridge in about a month. I heard that there was some vandalism in the parking lot. Should I be concerned about that?

[@Rhys]

Generally the Illinois side is pretty good. Missouri side has a spotty track record. Be sure to check ahead, as the bridge has had some rehab work done this spring. I think it'll be open a month from now tho, for pedestrian traffic at least.

[@speedlearner]

@@Rhys Thanks for the information. Should I be concerned about the current flooding situation?

[@Rhys]

@@speedlearner I'm not totally familiar with current conditions; this looks like a good resource: facebook.com/ChainOfRocks270/

[@RG-hf4et]

Seems like a long bridge....?

[@392nightrunner]

Had to turn the volume down because the music

[@buffiecar]

I hate bridges. I'd have to be sedated for this one.

[@rvbutter]

Of course when it was still open it was used by some of the largest trucks.

[@JorgeMendez-kn5ql]

Excellent footage, but terrible music. You should have captured the ambience of the drive.

[@Rhys]

If I get the chance again, I'll upload a video without the Escape from New York music.

[@out_running_erins9118]

Lol at Soundtrack music

[@tommissouri4871]

So where's the sound? You need to re-edit the video and add some narration or some car sounds or something.

[@timothyhaley6187]

This trip looked annoying and you slow.