Exploring The Abandoned Municipal Free - MacArthur Bridge in St. Louis MO Route 66
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- Опубліковано 5 сер 2024
- More Route 66 adventure here: / hookedonroute66
Join me as we take an in depth look on top of the remaining sections of the Municipal Free Bridge, or sometimes referred to as the MacArthur Bridge. Right now the bridge deck that once carried Route 66 is being dismantled and removed permanently by the TRRA (Terminal Rail Road Association). This video serves to immortalize the current images of an often overlooked landmark in St. Louis and Route 66.
In my best estimation estimation, road decking that is directly above the rail section will be removed. I have exhaustively tried reaching out to the public relations department of the TRRA with no response.
We used a number of different methods to attain the best footage possible. We even employed a quad copter or a drone equipped with an HD camera to get our aerial shots.
Enjoy!
When I was a little kid in the early 1940s, we drove across this bridge every weekend to see my grandparents in Alton, Illinois. There was a small island in the middle of the roadway where a man stood to collect the toll, which was a dime. He reached out to get the dime from my Dad in such a way that we didn’t even have to slow down. At that time, our car was a ‘37 Chevy, and my Dad did not like the S turns.
Rich... From a kid who grew up in St. Louis in the 50's and 60's, I'd like to say thank you for documenting some of the history of of this old town. So much of it is gone now. Thanks to folks like you, at least we can have a sample of how it used to be.
daveobieone makes me smile. Thank you for commenting.
My Friends and I Drove across that bridge most every weekend back in 1978-79 I was 18 in 78 and I was able to Purchase Beer at a few different locations on the East Side and bring the Liquor back to South St.Louis So We Could Party On...
I remember fall of 1981 quite well,
I am originally from Detroit, but grew up in Tuscaloosa, AL. from junior high on up.
I had to go to ESL in the late summer when my mother got ill and my father was working double and sometimes triple shifts at BF Goodrich. To this day, I still don't know why I had to go I was capable of taking care of myself. Anyway I remember my experience there in East St. Louis. I wasn't too happy about i then, but I guess I still have some good memories. I went to Lincoln Sr. High on Bond and I became the a starting linebacker on the Tiger varsity squad. No small feat because it was a vicious program just like Eastside. I remember people talking about cable television like it was new when because I had cable since the second grade in Detroit, but the "superstation", TBS, was new to them.
I remember meeting Buster Wortman, He wasa friend of my grandfather and the Lead gangster of ESL during Prohibition. He owned a hotel in Downtown ESL where my aunt had her wedding reception in '77. I mean ESL still had some life back then, no much, but it could have been reborn with help.
I remember the Checkerdome. Does anyone have photos of it, I remember seeing Journey on their "Escape" Tour in 1981 and seeing The Ringling Brothers Circus.
I remember seeing Flair and Race wrestle at the Kiel that year. I remember meeting Otis Jackson and E.J. Junior of the St. Louis Cardinals football franchise (E. J. was A Crimson Tide Linebacker and he came to our school in Tuscaloosa in my 9th grade year) at Houlihan's Restaurant in Brentwood.
My aunt and her husband are both doctors who live in Des Peres and I remember people being shocked by me trick or treating that year. There were only three black families living in the neighborhood and I'm sure the rest of the white neighbors knew all of them.
I remember this seeing this building from I-70 that was armaments factory. It look like there were bull's horns on top of it and being shown Zombie Road.
I remember the lights of the Purina Factory at night and Vess Soda billboards, man they made some weird flavors. I remember old Vienna and Jay's Snack chips.
Damn, I guess I'm rambling. While I am not a resident of STL or ESL. I guess I'm just saddened by the loss of memories of my youth.
I'm going back in June to my grandparents 75th wedding anniversary and I'm wondering what's left to see or do.
I can imagine the football program.... I bet it was rough. I went to the Arena many times. Check out Vintage St. Louis on Facebook to see photos or just google St. Louis Arena. It's a damn shame they tore it down.
The munitions factory at Goodfellow succumbed to pressure from the city back about 15 years ago. Funny... it's just a nasty filthy lot now.
The Vess bottle underwent a "restoration" last year. They neglected to sink enough money into to it to restore the neon. I wish they had just left it alone. I have lots of drone video of it before they tampered with it. It was beautiful. You can google search that too and find images of it lit up.
I got to meet Lou Brock, Stan Musial, and Chuck Berry.... I don't know if St. Louis has any real celebs anymore....
Purina got rid of it's neon light and they now occupy the area where the western roundabout ramp was for the MacArthur bridge was.
I would love to do an oral history interview with you. When you get to St. Louis give me a shout. I'll taxi you around to all these old places and you can tell us your accounts and some stories. It will make for a great video. Shoot me an email and I'll get you my phone number. Dinner will be on me! Rich@HookedOnRoute66.com
I WILL STILL HOLD YOU TO THIS WHEN I GET THERE AROUND THANKSGIVING
I remember those places also. Vess sodas, Old Vienna Chips. I graduated from Eastside, orange and blue!
Have lots of memories and when i go back to visit I drive around to see if some of the buildings and places are still standing and would be in awe when I see some that are still standing like the Shriners Temple in ESL. Lots of memories ! Great post Terry G.
I Remember driving across that bridge in 1963 on our way to California sure was a lot different than today.
Way back when, 79 or 80. Went to Saint Louis on a VICA trip for state contest, bus driver took an old bridge across the river so all us country Missourians could say they had been in Illinois, then took another bridge back. Somewhere along the way, bus windows down we were called honkeys, I think we were in a bad part of town, remember a car being stripped, had no wheels or tires sitting along the side of the road. Driver rattled off what bridge it was, but that was 41 or 2 years ago, I have slept since then. Thanks for the video.
Very Awesome!
Great video! One thing for sure, you guys are safer on this crumbling bridge than walking on the street in East St. Louis!
That’s a fact!
It's sad seeing relics like this bridge being forgotten.
Bridges are always fascinating, thank you for this story , construction and progress of humankind in previous generations is still amazing.
I drove 18 wheelers over that bridge in the 70s. Always thought it was fun.
My grandfather worked for the railroad and in 1990 I believe he got permission for us to watch the fireworks from the VP fair while parked on that bridge. It was awesome. I will never forget it. We were worried because while we were parked up there there was a storm with tornado warnings! Luckily the rain stopped and we still got to see them shoot the beautiful fireworks. I remember there were some of the metal sidewalk plates missing back then.
You remembered correctly. What an awesome vantage point to view the fair and the fireworks. I miss that bridge deck.... I'm glad I threw caution to the wind to go up there.
Great work. Thanks for caring enough to record this. History matters.
Rich, it's been almost 8 years since you posted this video and your goal of sharing the history of the bridge is a success! Thank you for your historical commentary that truly makes this a valuable video.
Thank you. This is still one of my favorite bridges on earth.
Thanks for the vid Rich! Sad another part of 66 is going away
Great video Rich. Your videos helped kickstart my love for Route 66.
Thanks for filming this before it's gone. I remember my dad loving to drive the family across this bridge. The deck looks pretty much in the condition it was when we were still able to drive on it. All the kids were scared and we were relieved when we were across. There was a dip before the toll taker that made my heart stop every time.
I recently looked at photos of my visits up there. Lots of holes in that deck. And the deck was only about 6 inches thick!
Went over this bridge all the time through out my life.
'Alles Vergängliche ist nur ein Gleichnis' , Goethe, Faust II - hier sieht man das auch sehr schön! Danke fürs Teilen, ...und das ist ja wohl auch ein nicht alltäglicher Ausflug gewesen🕵️☀️👍
MY GOSH ! I often wondered if this bridge still stood. I used to cross this bridge in the 60's going from Scott AFB to McDonnell-Douglas. Well, doing some drinking also. The "Toll" was 10 cents at the time. THANKS for bringing back some great memories.
Thanks for sharing your story. I love hearing about this beautiful old bridge.
It was a good time of life for me. The toll was taken by a guy standing in a little booth in the middle of the bridge. I often wondered if it was just something someone just did due its location in East Saint Louis. And looking at it now I wonder if I was crazy to even drive over it, in the middle of the night with a few beers in me. I guess pilots are just a crazy bunch back then.
:) You got to experience something most people never get to, let alone understand the meaning of it. Thanks.
So happy I found this video.
Thank you
Thank you for sharing this. I’m from East St. Louis and I was always fascinated with the history of the city. This is a great video collection to my archives of East St. Louis.
Thanks for watching and sharing!
I grew up in St Louis during the 50’sand 60’s and went over the bridge many many times. East St Louis wasn’t so bad back then. Thanks for the memories. St Louis is a great place full of history. I am hooked on your site and binge watching. 🤩
Thank you for posting this video. It brought back memories of many trips I took over this bridge with my father. As a youngster, I was fascinated with this bridge to the point of fanaticism.
Usually on trips to see the Delta Queen, my father would drive me over the MacArthur Bridge. It afforded one a unique view of the St. Louis and East St. Louis vistas. My trips occurred in the mid-1970’s. There were many times when we timed our crossing with the S.S. Admiral’s arrival, and we would cross the bridge as the Admiral was sailing under it.
As a side note, my father was not afraid to drive through East Saint Louis. Because of these trips and his bravery, I also saw many old East St. Louis landmarks that are no longer around. I can tell you from experience that it was a dramatic crossing! I also enjoyed many trips across the McKinley Bridge (before the renovation) and Clark Bridge, Alton, IL. Those old bridges had class.
I do appreciate your efforts to preserve the MacArthur Bridge experience. In the mid-1980’s, I embarked on a similar project and photographed the old Jefferson Barracks Bridge before it was demolished. These are worthwhile projects.
Thank You!
Henry Evans Thanks for recounting your memories. I love hearing about people's adventures. I sure wish we could have saved the road deck on this bridge.
I recall a bridge that had a 10 cent toll. I was able to talk my parents into using all the bridges. We actually camped in a park in East St. Louis. I don’t think crime was a problem then about 1960 or so. Maybe it was, but I did not know. I developed a bad appendix issue that night in the park. The local Catholic hospital wanted my parents to stay there until they were sure I was okay. My mom was in the waiting room, and did not hear this. My dad decided to be an ass and drive home where I almost had a burst appendix removed that evening. There was a building with Switzer Licorice sign I would see as we went across a particular bridge. We had our children in the St. Louis train station when it was open as a mall, but I doubt it still operates. I suspect urban problems closed that mall. I also remember the Admiral. My wife and I went onto it as a gambling boat, and I know it is gone now. Thanks for this video.
That's for recalling your memories. Union Station isn't really a mall anymore. It's an aquarium. It couldn't work as a mall. Too many opportunities for crime.
Rich, the drone video is awesome. I lived in U City from 2003-2006. The only portion of the upper deck that was dismantled back then was a 40 yard section on the east side. Very sad that the upper deck is gone.
Its sad to see the Original Route 66 just fade away. I'd say I'm a new era guy that lives like an old yesteryear fella, me and my wife tried to follow the old Route and best as we could moving from Oak Grove, Kentucky to Albuquerque New Mexico. We even drove through dirt roads of where the Old 30's Route 66 once was with a U-Hual trailer. Its just better in my opinion driving the roar then the new one. It kept me awake going through all those towns, and the people mad us feel right at home on each stop on the Route. If you know of a group that volunteers to go and maintain the History original route, I'd be glad to! Such a shame to leave that great Route in the dust when even now a days people will STILL drive it despite the lack of pavement. Just seems like it makes no sense to get ride of it or decomission it, along with its great bridges.
This is great, thanks for sharing. My favorite is the Old Chain of Rocks north of this bridge. It is now a bike/pedestrian bridge.
Great video, and history lesson. Posterity is unaware of our past.
Thank you.
Great video! Thanks for allowing us to experience it one last time. I have always been fascinated by old bridges, so my dad drove me across it many times when I was a child. I do remember actually driving across it when I was 16, 3 years before they closed it, so I feel fortunate to have that memory.
I'm dizzy just looking at this video. Wonderful footage...
Hello from Kansas 🇺🇸
Great video grew up in East St. Louis born in 81 the year it closed. Had Family that stayed on pigget right up the street, so I saw it often. I'm from state st. Though love my city.
Thanks to Route 66 News for alerting me to your site! Well done, Sir, and a Big Thank You for your efforts!
Entirely too much of our history is gone before we know it....
Very cool! Bridges creep me out! I'm not sure if I could've walked on it like you did...or even gotten near it 😵
Nice view of the deck pre=removal! Wish you'd had a shot of the Inaugural from the deck though that'd been cool.
When I was 12, me and some other kids climbed over the top of the bridge and down a pylon. Hmm, I wonder why the state trooper was there to take us away. Now amazed we survived. WE used to jump roofs down at the 44 construction area too.
Mom had a friend in Granite City. Been across it a few times.
Nice video. Tnx.
🙂👍‼️
You did an excellent job. I love the video it was awesome
That was an awesome video. Thanks for taking a risk to get some great footage. I hope more people get to see this.
Great Video; loved it! Thank you!
Excellent video thanks for sharing.
Love all the streetcar remanence!! So sorry to hear it being torn up. So so so sad
Thank you Rich for all your videos, I just came across them and will watch all of them as I plan on doing RT66 next September.
Thanks again
Jack Kessel
Franklinville, NJ
Please share!
It’s so unfortunate that not even a walking trail could be made of this bridge. This lack of effort to preserve the past shows that St. Louis is dying.
Good Jog Rich- I revisited this video because you did a great job.
Ive been watching e st louis videos because I was raised there and I feel during these times where I live now (st pete beach) can and may fall prey to similar fate.
wow!! This is so cool! I've always loved the road history and came across your videos in my free time. I was looking for the chain of rocks bridge yesterday, but couldn't find it. I live in IL and love this stuff. I'll subscribe and keep watching. I was born in 1980, so I thank you so much for keeping this alive.
Glad you like it. Thanks for sharing and subscribing. We have a lot of cool stuff in the works. BTW here is your drive across the chain of rocks bridge: ua-cam.com/video/uS3CtriYVuQ/v-deo.html
Awesome video. Thank you for posting.
Rich, I love your videos. I crave anything about the old Mother Road. This is a piece of history that is disappearing forever. Glad I got to experience this if only with your drone. Thank you.
Thanks. I hope you'll share the videos with others.
Thanks for posting. from Texas, RC
Excellent video ... thanks so much for posting ... from your Canadian friends in London, Ontario.
Thanks for doing all this documentation! Very important work if you ask me.
Rich, you do a wonderful job. You also do something in your videos that I try to do in mine, have great audio. Thanks for all your postings. I envy you your travels. Stay well. Dennis
Nice vid. Enjoyed very much. Thank you.
I love the turnbuckle logic! Cool Vid Guys!
This was tons of fun to watch!
Superb video. Nice historical presentation, too.
Thanks Much.....travelled over it's replacement many times in the early 2000's and remember it well. It was an interesting trip........TruckcamperJiim
good video. never gets old
Very interesting. Thanks for doing this.
Great video Rich, Very informative. We have been here long enough to have driven across it, but just never did. Wish we had now. Doug Smith
It was really scary over there in the late 70s early 80s. No reason to cross that bridge.
Living over in Southern Illinois when I was very young when we would go to St Louis a couple times per year - we would drive this bridge. I remember my Mom did not like going back at night because it was so dark and those s-turns on it. So many years ago.
I remember crossing the "Mac" a few times but dad was a T.R.R.A of St Louis employee so we had free toll on Eads.
We also lived closer to McKinley Bridge on the Illinois side G.C.
I remember riding in my parents car and going over that bridge, as a little kid I was somewhat terrified by bridges yet amazed by them at the same time. Thank you Rich for this video.
I have the exact same fascination. Scared yet intrigued.
We took this bridge from north St.Louis in the 50's to get to the east side and illegal drinking! Lots of roadhouses,strippers,jazz and dancing. Wild and crazy!
thanks a lot for that great video
Cool video. I've always wondered about this bridge while my parents would drive me across the Poplar Street bridge.
Your video was terrific. I am a rail fan and know the the bridge. Such a video as this truly preserves the bridge's features for generations to come. You are very lucky that the TRRA Police did not catch you up there. They are some nasty folks!
Keep up the good work!
I once crossed this bridge at night on a motor scooter coming from Dupo Il in 1956.
Do you remember anything from your experience? I drove past today. The deck is nearly 100% removed over the river.
Very nice video, Rich!
Enjoyed the video again
I really enjoyed your film and explanation of the MacArthur bridge….. I just like to share a little information with you…I live in Lincoln Alabama Talladega County not far from the Talladega speedway….. I have a private cemetery on my property in 1995 I was fortunate enough to be able to purchase some of the railing that was from MacAuthor bridge and I have it as a fence around my cemetery….. The house I live in was built about the same time that the MacArthur bridge was built so I’m trying to preserve a little bit of history…..Thanks again for your film on the Mac Author bridge…
That is amazing! I would love to see photos of your cemetery. Rich@HookedOnRoute66.com
Very nice. I was so pleased to find that someone had captured this information before it was too late. Thank you for sharing it.
it's sad that they are tearing it down. Even worse they are giving the excuse that it's for the good of Homeland Security. In a recent TV interview the TRRA officially states they are removing the deck to foil any potential terrorist attacks on the rail line. Lol! As if someone couldn't walk up the rail line onto the bridge to make an attempt to disrupt rail traffic, or do something to the piers at a foundational level. their statement was a copout. I'm very disappointed they didn't give their real reason
Ah, the universal excuse for destroying everything.
By any chance, are you familiar with a page on Facebook called "Abandoned America"? It's a photographer who does amazing work photographing abandoned places before they are wiped out. Incredible talent with an eye for history and the elegance in industrial archaeology. If you are interested, I would be happy to forward the link. (I'm not affiliated, just a big fan.)
Stan Maddox I do believe I have seen and posted on that page before. It has quite the following. Please share a public link in a new comment for everyone else to see and share. Thanks!
+Rich Dinkela Sorry for the delay, I missed seeing your reply. Abandoned America link: www.abandonedamerica.us/
I never cross that bridge 🌉 but my Mom use to walk across The Macarthur Bridge when she worked at the Holiday Inn in the early 1970's. Scary she told me. Bi-State buses use to cross it
I love hearing all the personal accounts that people had with this bridge. Thank You!
Awesome. Thanks
Thanks for the video. It was not on our agenda to see the bridge when my wife and I visited St. Louis in 2002.
Hi Rich. Just moved back to OK 2 weeks ago from FL....Been riding Rt 66 on my Hog. OKC to Sayer. N back. Love the riding here. Looking forward to riding OKC to KS n then MO , IL
Thanks you for posting this loved the history lesson!
Glad you liked it. Please share with others.
nice work rich!
Nice video
Fantastico Video, Parabens !!!!
Thanks!
Amazing video
Thanks! It's one of my favorite bridges by far.
If the engineer who built this bridge saw shape it was in he would be rolling in his grave
Well he designed the bridge very poorly considering the amount of people that drove over the edge to their death because the turn was too sharp.
@@DestroyAllLinesOne sounds rather that people were driving poorly, for a known curvy high bridge.
@@erpfanatic6586 yeah, cause we all know humans have a 100% success rate, right?
Thank you for sharing .. just found your channel..
I remember asking a lot of questions about that bridge & have a dreams that i was on that deck. Back in the 90s there was one second cut out on the east side
The driving deck was done closed when I was born, but was always fascinated by its maze look when passing by growing up, thanks for this view!
Thank You for watching. I am getting ready to make an update video. The deck is nearly gone now.
Roamin' Rich It's a shame too since the Great Rivers Greenway isn't too far from it. If the city can make the Old Chain of Rocks bridge into a pedestrian bridge, they could have done that with this too. Then again the CoR dumps into a better neighborhood, IL side.
+G$8605 Yeah no kidding. 10th street in East St.Louis is rough.
There is no neighborhood on the Illinois side. Nobody is interested in more transportation options that serve primarily thugs and criminals. It is a damn shame.
+Roamin' Rich True. A pedestrian/bicyclist could get robbed and killed on 10th street and no one would see anything in all that brush. It's a damn shame indeed. It's a depressing area.
nice video
I was stationed back here on Recruiting Duty when it closed. I wish I had taken the time to go across.
Nice video. Most posts on UA-cam have horrible camera work. This is really great. My wife and I want to travel 66 as soon as we can. Videos like this are very helpful and informative.
my mom in 1940s would get a fresh bucket of beer for 50 cents from the brewery in st Louis! i myself went 2 st louis and east louis in 1991 was scary then too. hope they make a comeback 2 better times.
Great Vid-- will try and find mine of the equadome in the late 90's :)
I would love seeing the equadome video.... I was a bit too timid and preoccupied with girls back then to go explore it.
The one picture showing the old Parina mills building. I remember that when I was a kid it burned down in the 60s with quite a fire
awesome bridge.
Good job.
+mike anderson Thanks
I remember my Grandpa used to talk about going across this bridge which he called that bridge the 460 Bridge because US 460 ended on The MacArthur Bridge
Subscribed......I enjoy the videos.
Thanks Virginia!
Very nice video quality enjoyed it.. I've been look at this abandon bridge on google maps for awhile now
You need to get out and see it before they pull the whole deck off for the highway.
I love St Lou all the rusty bridges soo much history and the train traffic is unreal
Well, sometime in late 1980 or early 81 coming back from an after hours visit to the east side, my buddy and I got on the bridge. It was lit with only one or two overhead lights and very spooky. No traffic but us and we were happy to get off in one piece. We still talk about it to this day.
Awesome.
Awesome!
thanks
Thanks!
How fabulous yet very sad.
After the bridge closed and before sections of the bridge were removed, I would walk to the middle to watch the V.P. Fair fireworks.
Nice to hear competent narration,,,,, so many videos are like " oh , what's here?,, and look at that,, wonder what that was? or who owned that,, wonder what the name of this town was,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
Thank you. Very much appreciated.