Eads Bridge facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Eads Bridge |
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The Eads Bridge from St. Louis, to East St. Louis, Illinois, over the Mississippi River
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| Coordinates | 38°37′41″N 90°10′17″W / 38.62806°N 90.17139°W |
| Carries | 4 highway lanes 2 MetroLink tracks |
| Crosses | Mississippi River |
| Locale | St. Louis, Missouri and East St. Louis, Illinois |
| Other name(s) | World's First All Steel Bridge |
| Maintained by | City of St. Louis |
| Characteristics | |
| Design | Arch bridge |
| Total length | 6,442 ft (1,964 m) |
| Width | 46 ft (14 m) |
| Longest span | 520 ft (158 m) |
| Clearance below | 88 ft (27 m) |
| History | |
| Designer | James B. Eads |
| Construction begin | 1867 |
| Opened | 1874 |
| Statistics | |
| Daily traffic | 7,100 (2014) |
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Eads Bridge
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| NRHP reference No. | 66000946 |
| Significant dates | |
| Added to NRHP | October 15, 1966 |
| Designated NHL | January 29, 1964 |
The Eads Bridge is a famous bridge that connects St. Louis, Missouri, and East St. Louis, Illinois. It crosses the mighty Mississippi River. The bridge is named after its designer, James B. Eads.
When it opened in 1874, the Eads Bridge was a huge achievement. It was the first bridge to cross the Mississippi River south of the Missouri River. It is also the oldest bridge still standing on the river today.
The middle arch of the Eads Bridge stretched 520 feet (158 meters). This made it the longest "rigid span" bridge ever built at that time. Only a few special suspension bridges were longer.
The bridge's foundations went more than 100 feet (30 meters) deep underwater. These were the deepest underwater constructions of their time. Workers used a new method called "pneumatic caissons" to build them. This was a big step forward in engineering. The Eads Bridge's caissons helped inspire later projects, like the famous Brooklyn Bridge.
During construction, the bridge's arches were hung from cables above. This meant they did not need temporary supports in the river. This method was an early use of the "cantilever principle" for large bridges.
The Eads Bridge is also special because of the materials used. It was the first large bridge to use steel as a main building material. Before this, most big structures used wrought iron. The Eads Bridge helped start the change from iron to steel in construction.
The Eads Bridge was a symbol of St. Louis for many years. It is still used today for cars, pedestrians, and the St. Louis MetroLink light rail system. It connects Washington Avenue in St. Louis to Riverpark Drive in East St. Louis. The bridge is recognized as a National Historic Landmark.
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Building the Eads Bridge
The Eads Bridge was built by the Illinois and St. Louis Bridge Company. James Eads was chosen as the chief engineer, even though he had never built a bridge before.
At that time, steamboats were very important for trade on the river. Steamboat companies worried that a bridge would hurt their business. They pushed for rules that made the bridge very tall and wide. They hoped this would make it impossible to build. But James Eads found a way!
The Mississippi River has a very strong current and lots of ice in winter. Eads designed a special "ribbed arch" bridge. It had three main sections supported by two piers in the river and two supports on the riverbanks. The bridge had two levels: an upper deck for vehicles and a lower deck for trains.
Deep Underwater Foundations
Building the bridge was very challenging. The bedrock, or solid rock, was deep underground. It was 38 meters (125 feet) deep on the Illinois side and 26 meters (85 feet) deep on the Missouri side.
To reach this depth, engineers used large, air-filled chambers called caissons. Workers went inside these caissons, which were sunk into the riverbed. They shoveled sand into a pump that sent it out of the caisson. This allowed the caissons to sink deeper.
Working deep inside the caissons was dangerous. Many workers got sick from "caisson disease," also known as "the bends" or decompression sickness. This illness happens when people go from high pressure to low pressure too quickly. It caused serious problems for many workers.
A Bridge of Steel
The Eads Bridge was one of the first major structures to use steel as a main building material. James Eads believed steel's strength was perfect for the bridge's arch design. This decision was important because it showed that steel could be used for huge projects.
Since they could not build temporary supports in the river (because of boat traffic), Eads's engineers came up with a clever solution. They used a "cantilevered rigging system" to build the arches. This meant they built out from the piers without needing supports from below.
Testing the Bridge
After seven years of work, the Eads Bridge was ready. On July 4, 1874, President Ulysses S. Grant officially opened the bridge. To prove it was safe, a circus elephant named John Robinson was led across the bridge. People believed elephants would not walk on unsafe structures. A big crowd cheered as the elephant crossed!
Two weeks later, Eads sent 14 locomotives (train engines) across the bridge at the same time. This showed how strong and stable the bridge was. The opening day celebration included a huge parade that stretched for 15 miles (24 kilometers) through St. Louis.
The bridge cost nearly $10 million to build.
The Eads Bridge Tunnel
City leaders wanted the bridge to connect directly to the heart of downtown St. Louis. But there was no space for train tracks in the busy city center. So, they decided to build a tunnel to connect the bridge to the railroad lines.
James Eads also helped design this tunnel. It was planned to be 4,000 feet (1,200 meters) long and 30 feet (9 meters) below street level. Building the tunnel was also difficult, with problems like quicksand and springs.
When the bridge opened in 1874, the tunnel was not fully finished. Only one track was ready, and the ventilation system was not complete. When the first train crossed the bridge and went through the tunnel, passengers coughed from the smoke.
Today, the Eads Bridge and its tunnel are used by MetroLink, St. Louis's light rail system.
Recognition and Legacy
The Eads Bridge has received many honors. In 1898, it was featured on a $2 postage stamp. Later, the design was reprinted on a special commemorative stamp sheet.
In 1964, the bridge was named a National Historic Landmark. This recognized its amazing design, new materials, and smart building methods. It was a very important project in engineering history.
During its construction, The New York Times newspaper called the Eads Bridge "The World's Eighth Wonder." On its 100th birthday, a famous architecture critic called it "among the most beautiful works of man."
See also
In Spanish: Puente Eads para niños
