Jefferson Barracks Bridge Needs a Bike Crossing

The Jefferson Barracks Bridge carries Interstate 255 across the Mississippi River between south St. Louis County and Illinois. Of all the major bridges in the St. Louis area, this is one of the few remaining that does not carry bike or pedestrian traffic. The area definitely needs a bike crossing here.

On the Missouri side, the area is well connected. Grant’s Trail is here in the Gravois Greenway. It is connected to the River Des Peres Greenway Trail. There is “greenway in progress” that will connect that to Mississippi River Greenway around Jefferson Barracks Park. Telegraph Road passes through this, with dedicated bike lines south of I-255, and soon to be added north of I-255 all the way to the River Des Peres. All of this is connected to extensive bike paths in Cliff Cave County Park, Carondelet Park, and Wilmore Park. Bike lanes on Gravois and Broadway connect all of this to downtown St. Louis.

On the Illinois side is a network of flat roads in the Mississippi River valley, mainly between Bluff Road and Levee Road, stretching all the way to Kaskaskia. This area is popular among cyclists because the roads are flat and there is relatively little traffic.

There is “future greenway” reaching down from Jefferson Barracks Park down to I-255. Kinswood Lane is an outer road between Telegraph and Koch Road that has room for bike lanes, and on the north side of the highway there is ample room to build a dedicated trail. Between Koch Road and the river is an unutilized area left over from the last bridge construction. On the Illinois side, there is an existing (private?) road that extends toward the river.

The opportunity is there. The need is there. I suppose it’s just a matter of time.