Old Chain of Rocks Bridge gets colorful decor

The Old Chain of Rocks Bridge, a section of Route 66 that spans the Mississippi River in St. Louis, was spruced up last week with the addition of red, orange and yellow banners designed by Kansas City artist James Woodfill, reports the Belleville (Ill.) News-Democrat.

The creation is called “Ultragate.”

Woodfill said the placement of the banners was inspired by walking the bridge.

“The structure seems dense in the distance, and as you move through it, the steel trusses slowly spread out into a light skeletal framework,” he said in a statement issued about the artwork. “With the massive structure overhead, the experience feels like a slowly decompressing gateway across the river.”

The report goes on to say the display will be up for at least one year. You can see the effect by clicking on the News-Democrat’s link, which has a photo.

The bridge carried Route 66 over the river for many years until the interstates bypassed it. It was closed for a number of years, then reopened by Trailnet in 1999 as a pedestrian and bicycle trail.

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