Route 66 Bridge
The historic Route 66 Meramec River Bridge is a vital connection, uniting rivers, trails, parks, and nearby communities. Restoring this iconic structure not only honors its remarkable past, but also creates new opportunities for recreation, connection, and discovery. Together, we can bring the bridge back to life and help build a vibrant future for Missouri’s State Parks.
Saving a Piece of Route 66 History.
A Link to the Past, a Path to the Future
Stretching more than 2,400 miles from Chicago to Los Angeles, Route 66 was once America’s most iconic highway. At its peak, the historic Meramec River Bridge carried millions of travelers across Missouri along this legendary “Main Street of America.” Restoring this landmark will preserve its rich heritage while giving it new life and purpose.
Our vision is to restore the bridge and re-establish it as a vital part of the region’s greenway system. Once revitalized, it will reconnect both sides of Route 66 State Park and expand access to the visitor center for hikers, cyclists, and boaters alike. Already celebrated by international Route 66 travelers and admired by architecture enthusiasts, the bridge has the potential to spark new recreation opportunities and economic growth—ensuring this historic treasure continues to connect, inspire, and endure for generations to come.
Preserving, Restoring & Protecting
Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the 1,008-foot Meramec River Bridge stands as a rare example of both engineering excellence and timeless beauty.
Completed in 1932, it is one of the few Warren-Truss bridges remaining in Missouri.
But its future is uncertain. Engineers estimate the truss has only seven years of structural life left. Once slated for demolition in 2017, the bridge was spared when Missouri State Parks assumed ownership—granting it a temporary reprieve from destruction.
Now, we have a critical opportunity to secure its future. With restoration, the bridge can once again serve as a vital link for walkers and cyclists in Route 66 State Park. With community support and additional funding, we can protect this landmark and transform it into a lasting cultural and recreational asset for Missouri—and for generations of travelers along America’s most famous road.
An Architectural Beauty
Built in 1931–1932 by the Frazier-Davis Construction Company, with steel fabricated by Stupp Bros. Bridge & Iron Company, the Route 66 Meramec River Bridge is a rare surviving example of early 20th-century engineering.
One of only four Warren Truss bridges remaining in Missouri, it represents both technical achievement and enduring design.
The Warren Truss—patented in 1848 by James Warren and Theobald Manzani—employs a precise arrangement of equilateral triangles, with top and bottom chords connected by vertical posts and diagonals, to stiffen and strengthen the roadbed. The Meramec River Bridge embodies this ingenuity in its three-span structure, stretching 1,008 feet in length and 30 feet in width.
Recognized on the National Register of Historic Places, the bridge stands as a testament to engineering excellence and functional beauty. Preserving it will honor its legacy while giving it new life as a cultural and recreational landmark for generations to come.
A restored Route 66 Meramec River Bridge will create an immediate east-west connection within the park, opening access to trails, natural resources, and the park’s 424 acres, while also improving logistics for park staff.
The dramatic topography surrounding the site provides stunning views, offering new outlooks for visitors.
This project also advances the vision of connecting Route 66 State Park to the Meramec Greenway, which currently runs from Sherman Beach in southwest St. Louis County to Glencoe. Ultimately, this connection could link the park to the 240-mile Ozark Trail, extending southwest through Missouri into Arkansas. In this way, the restored bridge becomes a catalyst—enabling a network of trails and greenways that connect people to their rivers, parks, and communities.
We have partnered with Missouri State Parks and numerous organizations to save this historic landmark in Eureka. As the financial repository and fiscal agent for the project, we hold and safeguard donated funds until they are needed for restoration.