Chester in Randolph County, Illinois — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)

The Chester Bridge

Photographed by Jason Voigt, November 30, 2020

1. The Chester Bridge Marker

Inscription. In 1938 plans began in Chester to build a bridge spanning the Mississippi River. Construction of the bridge started in 1941 and was completed in 1942 at a cost of $1,385,000. The total length of the bridge was 2,826 feet with two 670 foot center spans. A Bridge Commission was formed by the City of Chester to govern and operate the bridge and toll facility.

On a stormy night in July of 1944, tragedy struck. A windstorm of tornadic force caused the two 670 foot center spans to collapse into the river. Toll taker L.F. Jones noticed the lights went out and he called for service. Luckily, he realized the bridge had gone down and was able to stop traffic. No one was injured in the collapse.

It took two years to rebuild the bridge, and it was reopened in 1946. Since then, the Chester Bridge has been a major crossing at the Mississippi River. The nearest bridges are located at Cape Girardeau, MO, and St. Louis, MO, each an hour away. On New Year's Eve 1989, the last bridge toll was taken, and the bridge remains free today. Only during the flood of 1993 has the bridge been closed since the 1946 dedication.

Topics. This

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historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Bridges & Viaducts • Disasters • Waterways & Vessels. A significant historical year for this entry is 1942.

Location. 37° 54.291′ N, 89° 50.044′ W. Marker is in Chester, Illinois, in Randolph County. It can be reached from Bridge Bypass Road (Illinois Route 150) south of Randolph Street. Marker is located at the Chester Welcome Center and Segar Memorial Park. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 10 Bridge Bypass Rd, Chester IL 62233, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Southern Illinois — Little Egypt.

It is also in the American Midwest,

in the Corn Belt,

and in the Great River Road Region.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the Viceroyalty of New France,

the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

and the Northwest Territory.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Flood of 1993 (here, next to this marker); Lewis and Clark in Illinois (a few steps

Photographed by Jason Voigt, November 30, 2020

2. The Chester Bridge Marker

Marker is on a viewing deck outside the Chester Visitors Center, with the Chester Bridge and Mississippi River in the background.

from this marker); Chester, Randolph County, Illinois (a few steps from this marker); Popeye (within shouting distance of this marker); Weistar House (approx. 0.3 miles away); Statehood of Illinois (approx. 0.3 miles away); Revolutionary War Patriots (approx. 0.3 miles away); Ham Gravy (approx. 0.3 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Chester.

Also see . . . Chester Bridge on Wikipedia. (Submitted on December 6, 2020, by Jason Voigt of Glen Carbon, Illinois.)

Chester Bridge image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Mark Parker, May 28, 2021

3. Chester Bridge

Credits. This page was last revised on March 15, 2025. It was originally submitted on December 5, 2020, by Jason Voigt of Glen Carbon, Illinois. This page has been viewed 1,185 times since then and 131 times this year. Photos: 1. submitted on December 5, 2020, by Jason Voigt of Glen Carbon, Illinois. 2. submitted on December 6, 2020, by Jason Voigt of Glen Carbon, Illinois. 3. submitted on March 11, 2025, by Mark Parker of Hickory, North Carolina.