Little Beaver Creek Bridge

E. Route 66 Martin Spring, MO
Phone:

East < GO > West

The 1926 one-lane Little Beaver Creek Bridge has been replaced. The bridge is in a dangerous spot on the road sometimes referred to as a "dead man's curve". As if that wasn't bad enough the old bridge was essentially only one lane wide, so narrow there was not room for two modern cars to pass. When we went by in 2017 there was sign just east of the bridge saying "Yield To Oncoming Traffic". It is located at Martin Spring Dr. (Old Route 66) & Hwy. 7000 on the west side of Martin Springs.

GPS: 37.932427, -91.838430

Planning for a new bridge here was approved in January of 2019 with the expectation that work could begin in 2020. That was delayed and the bridge was finally rebuilt and reopened in 2021. The bridge is part of the official alternate route when the freeway is closed and the old bridge was apparently just too small to carry the traffic load in such situations.

The concrete slab style 1926 bridge was comprised of three fairly equal spans totaling about 66 feet and supported by concrete piers. The total deck width is only twenty feet, and that includes the railings and curbs.

Photo(s): 2017