Show the Love! Campagin to Save Our Historic Route 66 Meramec River Bridge

The Route 66 Meramec River Bridge is located in the Route 66 State Park near Eureka, MO. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2009, it has not experienced any major alterations since its construction nearly 80 years ago. However, the bridge has fallen into disrepair. Due to safety, the bridge was closed by the Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT), the owner of the bridge, to all traffic. MoDOT had made the initial decision to demolish the bridge but has since partnered with a broad coalition of stakeholders working to preserve the bridge. MoDOT and its preservation partners are now seeking a new owner and funding to save the bridge from demolition by MODOT’s new deadline of December 2016.

More information on how to join this effort: http://meramecriverrt66bridge.greatriv.com

National Trust for Historic Preservation Awards Landmarks Association of St. Louis, Inc. A Preservation Grant from National Trust Preservation Funds

Grant Will Go Toward Master Plan for the Historic Route 66 Bridge over the Meramec River

St. Louis, MO (March 22, 2010) Today, Landmarks Association of St. Louis, Inc. was awarded a $3,500 grant by the National Trust for Historic Preservation from the Missouri-Kansas Preservation Fund. The seed grant funds will launch the first phase of a multi-phased project to develop a master plan for the Historic Route 66 Bridge over the Meramec River.

Master Plan for the Historic Route 66 Bridge over the Meramec River

The master plan for the bridge will serve as a long-range plan for the future use of the bridge and its surrounds as historical resources. An economic feasibility study (which is part of the master plan) will examine preservation and rehabilitation costs, as well as physical enhancement opportunities such as the placement of overlooks, seating, handicap accessible viewing platforms, and educational signage in the park. These enhancements will help build an identity for the project, educate the public about the bridge as a historical resource, and distribute information about the process being undertaken currently.

The Meramec River Bridge is an important resource associated with Route 66 in Missouri. It was specifically constructed for the historic highway, and is one of only four similarly designed bridges in the state. When the road was bypassed by Interstate-44, the bridge was likewise evaded and fell into disrepair. The master plan funded by the grant is a critical step in stabilizing the bridge for future renovation and use.

Landmarks Association serves as fiscal agent for the bridge and has been working closely with the bridge’s stakeholders – a strong partnership of over twenty local, state and national organizations working to preserve the bridge as a vital tourism, recreational and historic asset.

“Without organizations like Landmarks and the Meramec River Bridge stakeholders, communities and towns all across America would have a diminished sense of place,” said Stephanie Meeks, president of the National Trust for Historic Preservation.  “The National Trust for Historic Preservation is honored to provide a grant to Landmarks, which will use the funds to help preserve an important piece of our shared heritage.”

The National Trust for Historic Preservation dispenses small grants for local projects through the National Trust Preservation Funds grant program.  The grants range from $500 to $5,000 and have provided over $5.5 million dollars of funding since 2002.  They are awarded to nonprofit groups, educational institutions and public agencies, and must be matched, at least dollar for dollar, with public or private funds.  Preservation Funds grants are being used nationally for such wide-ranging activities as consultant services for rehabilitating buildings, technical assistance for tourism that promotes historic resources and educating children about their heritage.  These grants are often the deciding factor on whether historic buildings or sites can be saved for future generations.

For more information on National Trust for Historic Preservation’s Preservation Fund grants, visit: www.PreservationNation.org/resources/find-funding/grants/.

About Landmarks Association of St. Louis, Inc.

Landmarks Association of St. Louis (http://www.landmarks-stl.org/) was incorporated in 1959 as a not-for-profit agency, focusing on the preservation, enhancement, and promotion of St. Louis’ (and the surrounding area’s) architectural heritage. The agency’s original goals addressed rampant destruction of the city’s historic buildings and landmarks prompted by urban renewal and slum-clearance. Today, Landmarks continues to focus on the preservation and enhancement of local and regional historical resources, encouraging sound planning and good contemporary design.

About the National Trust for Historic Preservation

The National Trust for Historic Preservation (www.PreservationNation.org) is a non-profit membership organization bringing people together to protect, enhance and enjoy the places that matter to them. By saving the places where great moments from history – and the important moments of everyday life – took place, the National Trust for Historic Preservation helps revitalize neighborhoods and communities, spark economic development and promote environmental sustainability. With headquarters in Washington, DC, nine regional and field offices, 29 historic sites, and partner organizations in all 50 states, the National Trust for Historic Preservation provides leadership, education, advocacy and resources to a national network of people, organizations and local communities committed to saving places, connecting us to our history and collectively shaping the future of America’s stories.

Support Urgently Needed for Historic Bridge at Route 66 State Park

Please take the time to send your comments to MoDOT concerning the future of a bridge at Route 66 State Park. The bridge is scheduled for demolition in February 2012 and no replacement of any kind is currently planned. Comments MUST be sent before September 30th to be included in MoDOTs file on this issue.

Send your email comments to: andrew.gates@modot.mo.gov

Follow these links to MoDOTs website:
Route 66 Meramec River Bridge Virtual Public Meeting

This MoDOT website shows the results of the years of NO maintenance on the bridge since Times Beach was dis-incorporated in 1982:

Route 66 State Park Bridge

Other websites with information about the bridge:

Meramec River US 66 Bridge

Missouri holds new meeting for Route 66 bridge

Friends of the Meramec River Route 66 Bridge

Upcoming Meeting in Rolla

The next meeting of the Route 66 Association of Missouri will be on Saturday, January 16, at Matt’s Steakhouse, 12200 Dillon Outer Road, Rolla, MO 65401. Lunch will be served at 12:00 P.M. with the general meeting following.

Click here for more information and the lunch registration form.

Meeting guests will be representatives from the Missouri Department of Transportation, who will discuss the Old Route 66 Bridge over the Meramec River at Route 66 State Park. Bring your questions and comments. Other meeting guests will be Jerany Jackson and Spencer Jones from Great River Engineering, who will give an update and answer questions on the Corridor Management Plan.

Route 66 State Park Bridge Endangered

As reported by Bliss:

“I attended a quarterly meeting of the Route 66 Association of Missouri yesterday and learned that the old 66 bridge across the Meramec River at Route 66 State Park in Eureka, MO (formerly the Times Beach 66 bridge) is slated for *swift and complete* demolition. Period.

There was some discussion about what could be done to stall or prevent the bridge’s removal and at this point I don’t have a *specific* contact and can only suggest emails or letters of protest to the Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT). Contact is: http://modot.org

A representative from the National Park Service was in attendance and, as I recall, said something to the effect that the swift action is due to available money to MoDOT being nearly expired. (Could be wrong about that, however, so don’t hold me to it.) You might be able to get more info from: http://www.cr.nps.gov/rt66 or IM Rt66(at)nps.gov

Perhaps nothing will prevent the permanent bridge removal (no replacement) but this group is powerful and as such our pleas and protests might help to save the bridge, which I’m confident could still be used as a beautiful and historical pedestrian crossing. Nearly anything is possible……..Bliss”

Here is the MoDOT press release about the bridge closing: MoDOT permanently closes Old Route 66 Bridge

MoDOT to close ramp from Lewis Road to WB I-44

Crews demolish lanes on the Lewis Road Bridge

The Missouri Department of Transportation has closed the Lewis Road overpass exit to the Park – the westbound exit is closed, so anyone traveling west from here has to go east to the Antire road exit, cross over I-44 there and then head back west. Antire Road is exit 269, east of Exit 266. Exit 266 is Lewis Road.

To read more, here is the press release.