How many bridges span the Mississippi River?
Bridges have always been a vital link between peoples and cultures, allowing people to travel between different places and providing a gateway to new opportunities. As such, the Mississippi River has developed an impressive collection of bridges that have served as a lifeline for transportation, commerce, and communication.
In the United States, the Mississippi River is the most important river in the country, and spans 2,350 miles from its source in Lake Itasca to its delta at the Gulf of Mexico. From Montana in the North to Louisiana in the South, the Mississippi River has been traversed by hundreds of bridges, making it the longest of any river in the USA.
According to the World Atlas, the mostly commonly crossed bridge of the Mississippi River is the I-35W Bridge in Minnesota, which carries traffic between Minneapolis and St. Paul. This alone could link up to 140,000 vehicles daily, and would by far be the most popular bridge on the entire Mississippi River. Another incredibly important bridge is located in St. Louis, Missouri, where a total of four roads are linked together through a combined bridge and tunnel setup.
Nowadays, large bridges that span the Mississippi River are expensive, with every span costing millions of dollars to construct. As a result, fewer large bridges are being built along the Mississippi, and small bridges and other forms of transportation are being favoured due to their relative affordability, such as ferries and barges. In fact, the majority of bridges along the Mississippi are small, with many only privately-owned and serving a specific purpose, such as connecting two small towns.
The Impact of Bridges Along the Mississippi
The bridges of the Mississippi are vitally important to both business and leisure. For businesses, the Mississippi bridges are essential for economic processes such as shipping, transportation, and tourism. Large bridges, in particular, often provide free commerce routes and move truck freight quicker and more efficiently than railroads. In addition, small towns benefit from connecting bridges, as people from one town can much more easily commute to a neighbouring town for recreation, shopping, and economic opportunities.
In addition to connecting people on a physical level, the Mississippi River bridges also help bring people together socio-culturally. Nearly all of the bridges are open to the public, and most either provide a pedestrian walkway or have one planned, giving people access to different sides of the river. They also offer beautiful views of the river, allowing visitors to enjoy an unhindered view of the natural environment.
The Mississippi River bridges have also been well-preserved, with multiple preservation efforts in motion to ensure that these important structures will remain standing for generations to come. Additionally, some bridges, such as the Big Muddy National Fish and Wildlife Refuge Bridge in Missouri, are actually the first of their kind and make use of new and potentially revolutionary technologies such as renewable energy resources.
The Total Number of Bridges Spanning the Mississippi
The total number of bridges spanning the Mississippi River is difficult to accurately determine, as many of the smaller bridges are privately-owned and are not a part of the official bridge count. In addition, many bridges have been destroyed or have become obsolete over time. However, according to the United States Coast Guard, the official number of bridges currently crossing the Mississippi River is 226.
The Oldest Bridge on Mississippi River
The oldest bridge that is still standing over the Mississippi River is the Plaquemine Rail-Highway Bridge in Louisiana, which was built in 1886. Spanning 8,725 feet, it was once the longest single-span bridge over the Mississippi, and was part of the Lincoln Highway bridge system connecting the East Coast and the West Coast of the United States. Today, it is still one of the oldest bridges in the country and has been listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
The Largest Bridge Spanning the Mississippi
The largest bridge that spans the Mississippi River is the I-310 Bridge in Louisiana. Measuring in at 16,647 feet, it is the longest bridge in the United States, and connects New Orleans to the nearby city of St. Charles.
Future Developments and the Future of Bridges on the Mississippi River
As the population of the United States continues to grow and as more people move to the Midwest, so will the demand and need for bridges to span the Mississippi River, and bridge construction around the river should continue to remain at a consistent level. Additionally, as new technologies are developed, new types of bridges are being built and will continue to be built in order to meet the economic, recreational, and cultural needs of citizens and travelers.
In the future, bridges will continue to be an invaluable part of daily life, and bridges along the Mississippi River will remain vital to the economic development and connectivity of the region. It is likely that in the coming years, more bridges, both large and small, will continue to be built along this iconic waterway.
