Rating:
3 votes

Lewis Bridge

St. Louis County, Missouri, and St. Charles County, Missouri

Photos 

Historic postcard

This postcard shows the original Lewis Bridge (right) next to the Bellefontaine Railroad Bridge

BH Photo #107232

Map 

Street View 

Facts 

Overview
Lost through truss bridge over the Missouri River on U. S. Highway 67, running parallel to the Bellefontaine Railroad Bridge
Location
St. Louis County, Missouri, and St. Charles County, Missouri
Status
Replaced by a modern four-lane deck-girder bridge
History
Built 1927; replaced 1979
Builders
- Alton-St. Louis Bridge Co (Financier/Owner)
- Ash, Howard, Needles, & Tammen of Kansas City, Missouri (Design)
- Kansas City Bridge Co. of Kansas City, Missouri (Substructure and Superstructure)
Design
Main spans: Four Pennsylvania Petit through trusses
Approach spans: Short steel stringer approach on St. Louis County side, and longer, slightly curved steel stringer approach on the St. Charles County side
Dimensions
Length of largest span: 443.0 ft.
Total length: 2,042.0 ft. (0.4 mi.)
Approximate latitude, longitude
+38.84304, -90.23471   (decimal degrees)
38°50'35" N, 90°14'05" W   (degrees°minutes'seconds")
Approximate UTM coordinates
15/739999/4302992 (zone/easting/northing)
Quadrangle map:
Columbia Bottom
Land survey
T. 47 N., R. 7 E., Sec. 9
Inventory number
BH 22642 (Bridgehunter.com ID)

Categories 

Alton-St. Louis Bridge Co (2)
Ash, Howard, Needles, & Tammen (12)
Beam (16,304)
Built 1927 (873)
Built during 1920s (10,111)
Have street view (27,839)
Kansas City Bridge Co. (142)
Lost (26,744)
Lost 1979 (93)
Lost during 1970s (862)
Missouri (6,338)
Missouri River (122)
 Owned by state (16,265)
Pennsylvania truss (533)
Replaced by new bridge (18,143)
Span length 250-500 feet (1,232)
St. Charles County, Missouri (85)
St. Louis County, Missouri (191)
Steel stringer (6,524)
Through truss (15,893)
Total length 1000-2500 feet (1,938)
Truss (34,153)
US 67 (102)

Update Log 

  • October 27, 2021: Updated by Nathan Holth: Added builders.
  • June 5, 2019: New photos from Joe Sonderman
  • May 18, 2019: New photos from Joe Sonderman
  • August 12, 2018: New photo from James Baughn
  • March 21, 2011: New Street View added by Jason Smith
  • March 21, 2011: Updated by Mark Dellbringge: Modified design description and when built

Sources 

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Comments 

Lewis Bridge
Posted October 28, 2010, by Mark Dellbringge

The Bi-State Development Agency used to operate an "Alton Express" bus route which used this bridge (and the old Alton Bridge over the Mississippi to the north of this location). The Lewis Bridge was a four-span truss structure running parallel to the Bellefontaine RR bridge. As you drove north into St. Charles County, the fourth truss span dropped off on a slight incline, then a steel stringer span carried you to the U. S. 67 mainline and began a two-lane divided highway, thenceforth proceeding through West Alton and on up to the old Alton Bridge, where the divided highway ended. Somewhat scary bridge, but the old Alton Bridge was even scarier.

Lewis Bridge
Posted May 1, 2009, by Gene McCluney (mccluney [at] sbcglobal [dot] net)

That post-card is art, not a photograph which means it may not reflect reality, however that looks like a Toll-booth at the entrance?

Lewis Bridge
Posted May 1, 2009, by Mark Dellbringge

The old Lewis Bridge was built in 1926 or 1927.

Lewis Bridge
Posted September 12, 2005, by Morninggloryseed (morninggloryseed [at] hotmail [dot] com)

Beautiful postcard. I remember traveling this narrow bridge, and watched its destruction from the shore when the new one was opened. Any actual photographs of this bridge would be appreciated. My memories are fading.