lousiana missouri bridge

glennster · Dec 13, 2016

hey any of you fellers down in that neck of the woods??? i am heading to columbia mo to pick up my daughter from school. will be pulling a trailer behind the suburban. they are calling for snow on friday and then sub zero on the return trip sunday. i really hate that scary bridge on 54 over the mississippi. any thoughts on that route, or is there another bridge near there that is a little less scary??? i go thru pittsfield coming off interstate 72.

old · Dec 13, 2016

Don't know that bridge but I know of a couple bridges that I bet would make that one look like a very safe. Like one down here at the Lake of the Ozarks called the swinging bridge and it does in fact swing. Sign on each end of bridge says cross at own risk. Wood floor and a cable/rod type set up top hold it up. I have been over it one time and NEVER again will I cross it. There was also another one in the area a few years back where it 2 18 wheedlers tried to cross it at the same time many lost a mirror due to it being so narrow

coshoo · Dec 13, 2016

We had a scary old bridge across the Cowlitz River in western Washington many years ago. Too narrow, and it was about 300 feet to the river. Us kids would close our eyes when we crossed it. They dammed the river in the late 50's, and many were watching as the rising water covered the bridge. Heard a lot of "good riddance" and a little applause as it went out of sight. Nice, wide concrete bridge replaced it.

Bill in IL · Dec 13, 2016

Looks like your options are Hannibal, Mo or Alton IL. There are not many choices in that area. I have crossed that bridge at Louisiana and thought it was neat but you need to stay focused on the road. I can certainly understand how some would not like it.

Drew · Dec 13, 2016

I'm real familiar with that route coming from Columbia to my grandparents just south of Pittsfield. From I-72 north of Pittsfield, its about 13 miles farther to Columbia, but about the same time wise to cross the river at Hannibal which is a nice fairly new, 4 lane bridge, take hwy 61 (4 lane) south out of Hannibal to hwy 19 (2 lane, but good road). Hwy 19 and hwy 54 come together west of Vandalia.

WESnIL · Dec 13, 2016

Glennster: I have been across that bridge 6 times in the last 6 months. Just hang on and go slow. If you think that bridge is narrow and scary you should have gone across the old bridge that linked IL with Keokuk, IA. Now that was narrow! When going across that bridge with a semi and meeting another semi both drivers had to pull in their mirrors and even then still run the risk of hitting the right side mirror on the bridge. I am sure glad that those days are behind me and that bridge has been replaced. By comparison that Louisiana bridge is a piece of cake.

glennster · Dec 13, 2016

thats sounds like a plan, i'll head up thru hannibal. the truck and enclosed trailer will be empty on the way down, and the weather guessers are calling for snow. its about a 5 hour drive, i figure i can leave at sunup and be there early afternoon. need to be there at 5 pm for graduation.

rbhuntn · Dec 13, 2016

(quoted from post at 10:19:59 12/13/16) hey any of you fellers down in that neck of the woods??? i am heading to columbia mo to pick up my daughter from school. will be pulling a trailer behind the suburban. they are calling for snow on friday and then sub zero on the return trip sunday. i really hate that scary bridge on 54 over the mississippi. any thoughts on that route, or is there another bridge near there that is a little less scary??? i go thru pittsfield coming off interstate 72.

The bridge at Hannibal as stated would be my choice. To bad I have family from out of town in this weekend or I would drive to Columbia to meet up for a glass of iced tea or something.

Ron-MO · Dec 13, 2016

Here it is.....
Swinging Bridge

charlie n · Dec 13, 2016

I'd be more worried about 54 between I72 and Atlas with the forecast. Google maps show it's the same miles and time coming down 55 and west on 70. All Interstate . Or you can get off at Hamel and take IL 140 to Alton and cross here. It takes me 2 hours from Alton to Columbia.

Good luck.

gab · Dec 13, 2016

.How you feel about this one, plank floor, on cables, 1053 feet down.

RamblinMan · Dec 13, 2016

I've crossed the Champ Clark Bridge in Louisiana, MO many times in a semi. Go slow. I never lost a mirror on that bridge meeting anything. I grew up in those parts so I never gave it any thought. The old bridge at Hannibal wasn't much better but the new one is the best place to cross.

504 · Dec 13, 2016

Yep, go through Hannibal,if you need gas take the first exit and head toward the down town, 1/4 mile on the right,(first one) is a plastic only gas station. They run about .20 a gal cheaper than everybody else. Check our local weather at WGEM or KHQA,they have the best coverage in the area. If it is dry I take US 24 at Monro City to Moberly. If the roads are sketchy, I take US 36 to Macon and then US 63 south to Columbia. I was in Columbia last Monday for a six month check up.

john in la · Dec 13, 2016

Nothing worse than a pontoon draw bridge.

Batel · Dec 13, 2016

About 40 years ago a conservation man went down on that river to capture a couple of good old boys gigging out of season. A fella on his way to work found the conservation man hanging by his feet from that bridge the next morning. He wasn't hurt, just embarrassed. Always been kind of a tough area there around Brumley.

old · Dec 13, 2016

Yep there is said to be a few places in that area if your sen there at night you will still be there in the morning but you may or may not be in very good shape. Even suppose to be one of those church places that shoot first and ask questions after.

Texasmark1 · Dec 14, 2016

Sorta a topic distraction: When I was a teen a friend of mine and I drove my elderly aunt from Texas back to NOLA. That meant crossing the Huey P. Long bridge spanning the Mississippi river. I was driving as we came upon it and she asked me if I wanted her to take over. I said that I could handle it. Well handle it I did, but it was none the less scary, in good weather. We made it ok.

lousiana missouri bridge

glennster

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old

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Bill in IL

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WESnIL

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glennster

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