Chouteau Bridge
Encyclopedia
The Chouteau Bridge is a four-lane girder bridge
on Route 269 across the Missouri River
between Jackson County, Missouri
and Clay County, Missouri. The bridge is named for Francois Chouteau
who was a member of the Chouteau
fur trapping family and is considered the first permanent settler in Kansas City.
There have been two bridges that have carried the name Chouteau Bridge. The first bridge was a three span Whipple Truss bridge, built in 1887, and was the second bridge over the Missouri River in the Kansas City, Missouri area. In the beginning it was a railroad bridge built and used by The Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul and Pacific Railroad
, or also known as the "Milwaukee Road". Upon the completion and opening of the Harry S. Truman Bridge
downstream, the Chouteau was converted to vehicular use in 1951. The bridge was very narrow, and in the latter years was often closed because of accidents, and due to low weight issues, when it was reduced to 3 tons, it was closed permanently, and removed by implosion
in 2001. It was the oldest bridge on the river when it was demolished. In 2001, a new span was built a few yards upstream of the old span. The north end of the bridge is near the entrance for the Harrah's Casino.
Girder bridge
A girder bridge, in general, is a bridge built of girders placed on bridge abutments and foundation piers. In turn, a bridge deck is built on top of the girders in order to carry traffic. There are several different subtypes of girder bridges:...
on Route 269 across the Missouri River
Missouri River
The Missouri River flows through the central United States, and is a tributary of the Mississippi River. It is the longest river in North America and drains the third largest area, though only the thirteenth largest by discharge. The Missouri's watershed encompasses most of the American Great...
between Jackson County, Missouri
Jackson County, Missouri
Jackson County is a county located in the U.S. state of Missouri. With a population of 674,158 in the 2010 census, Jackson County is the second most populous of Missouri's counties, after St. Louis County. Kansas City, the state's most populous city and focus city of the Kansas City Metropolitan...
and Clay County, Missouri. The bridge is named for Francois Chouteau
Francois Chouteau
François Gesseau Chouteau was an American pioneer fur trader, businessman and community leader known as the "Founder" or "Father" of Kansas City, Missouri....
who was a member of the Chouteau
Chouteau
Chouteau was the name of a highly successful French fur-trading family based in St. Louis, Missouri, members of which established posts in the Midwest and Western United States...
fur trapping family and is considered the first permanent settler in Kansas City.
There have been two bridges that have carried the name Chouteau Bridge. The first bridge was a three span Whipple Truss bridge, built in 1887, and was the second bridge over the Missouri River in the Kansas City, Missouri area. In the beginning it was a railroad bridge built and used by The Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul and Pacific Railroad
Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul and Pacific Railroad
The Milwaukee Road, officially the Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul and Pacific Railroad , was a Class I railroad that operated in the Midwest and Northwest of the United States from 1847 until its merger into the Soo Line Railroad on January 1, 1986. The company went through several official names...
, or also known as the "Milwaukee Road". Upon the completion and opening of the Harry S. Truman Bridge
Harry S. Truman Bridge
The Harry S. Truman Bridge is a vertical lift rail drawbridge over the Missouri River connecting Jackson County, Missouri with Clay County, Missouri in Kansas City, Missouri. It has a 427 foot main span, and is the tenth longest span in the United States....
downstream, the Chouteau was converted to vehicular use in 1951. The bridge was very narrow, and in the latter years was often closed because of accidents, and due to low weight issues, when it was reduced to 3 tons, it was closed permanently, and removed by implosion
Building implosion
In the controlled demolition industry, building implosion is the strategic placing of explosive material and timing of its detonation so that a structure collapses on itself in a matter of seconds, minimizing the physical damage to its immediate surroundings...
in 2001. It was the oldest bridge on the river when it was demolished. In 2001, a new span was built a few yards upstream of the old span. The north end of the bridge is near the entrance for the Harrah's Casino.