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Trail closures in the St. Louis area

There are some trail closures you should be aware of if you live in the St. Louis area:


OLD CHAIN OF ROCKS BRIDGE: Because of icy conditions at the Missouri parking lot for the Old Chain of Rocks Bridge, Trailnet has decided to close access for the bridge for now. This time of year, the Mississippi River bridge is a favorite spot for watching bald eagles. No word on when the bridge may reopen. The historic old Route 66 bridge is owned by the city of Madison, Ill., and operated by Trailnet, an organization whose goal is to promote healthy living in the St. Louis area.

MCT NICKEL PLATE TRAIL: This isn't new news, but Madison County Transit's Nickel Plate Trail is closed at South Buchanan Street in Edwardsville and probably will remain closed until late year. MCT is constructing an underpass below the busy street to improve access to the Nickel Plate Trail, which continues east to Fruit Road northeast of Edwardsville, and the Quercus Grove Trail, which links Edwardsville, Hamel, Worden and Staunton. MCT also is building a park-and-ride lot at Buchanan Street. MCT has not posted an official detour for the trail.

RICHLAND CREEK GREENWAY TRAIL: The western terminus of Belleville's Richland Creek Greenway Trail at Third and Cleveland streets may be closed from time to time because of replacement of the Cleveland Street bridge. The six-mile trail connects South Side Park and Southwestern Illinois College.

Labels: Illinois, Missouri, Old Chain of Rocks Bridge, trails

Roger 3 comments links to this post 12:25 PM

Thursday, August 20, 2009

Suspect charged in Old Chain of Rocks Bridge break-ins

Nearly two dozen vehicle break-ins have taken place this year at the Illinois lot of the Old Chain of Rocks Bridge, but there's good news for bridge visitors.

Madison (Ill.) police last week arrested a suspect, 18-year-old Kenneth A. Woods-Bey of St. Louis, and he has been charged four felony counts of burglary, the Suburban Journals report this week.

According to the story -- written by Scott Cousins, a longtime friend and a classmate of mine at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville -- Officer Scott Reynolds had dropped off a prisoner at the Madison County Jail in Edwardsville and was coming back to the city when he decided to do a quick patrol of Chouteau Island about 8 a.m. last Friday. As Reynolds was heading toward the Canal Bridge, a black Dodge Challenger that had been identified as being previously used in a break-in on the island was crossing ahead of him. The officer stopped the vehicle and took three people into custody.

Madison Police Chief Steve Shelby told the Journals that police were able to identify Woods-Bey through video from security cameras on the bridge and in the parking lot. The other two people in the car were not charged.

As I've unfortunately had to report several times over the years, Missouri and Illinois parking lots at the bridge have been plagued by car break-ins. Trailnet, which operates the bridge that is owned by the city of Madison, ultimately had to close the Missouri lot adjacent to the bridge -- except for special events -- because of the problem and a lack of funds to provide security every day.

The Old Chain of Rocks Bridge once carried Route 66 traffic over the Mississippi River; today it's a bicycle/pedestrian bridge that draws lots of visitors. Let's hope this arrest helps make visitors feel a bit safer.

Labels: Old Chain of Rocks Bridge, Route 66

Roger 0 comments links to this post 1:37 PM

Thursday, July 23, 2009

More car thefts at Old Chain of Rocks Bridge

In recent years, cyclists and pedestrians who parked their vehicles on the Missouri side of the Old Chain of Rocks Bridge ran the risk of having them broken into.

Now, the problem has spread to the Illinois parking lot on Chouteau Island, KTVI-TV, Channel 2 -- the Fox affiliate in St. Louis -- reported Thursday.

Despite the recent problems, the city of Madison, Ill., has no plans to close the Illinois lot. Instead, police are hoping cameras installed at the parking lot and help from the public will lead to the arrest of suspects in the break-ins.

Madison police believe a gang is responsible for the break-ins, and police told Channel 2 they can steal valuables out of cars in a matter of moments. The video shows broken vehicle windows.

The city of Madison owns the bridge, dating back from the days when the former toll bridge carried Route 66 travelers across the Mississippi River between St. Louis and Illinois. The bridge is now open to bicycle and pedestrian traffic only. St. Louis-based Trailnet operates the bridge.

For a while, Trailnet was able to provide security at the Missouri lot. But because of funding limitations, Trailnet last year closed the Missouri lot except for special events. People who want to approach the bridge from the Missouri side have to park in North Riverfront Park in St. Louis and bike or walk to the bridge.

If you do park on the Illinois lot, be sure to take your valuables with you while exploring the bridge or at least hide them out of sight if possible.

Labels: Old Chain of Rocks Bridge

Roger 0 comments links to this post 10:34 PM

Monday, July 14, 2008

Old Chain of Rocks Bridge's financial struggle

Funding cutbacks for the Old Chain of Rocks Bridge have Madison Mayor John Hamm concerned, the Granite City Press-Record reports. Trailnet officials recently had told the mayor that it didn't have enough money to pay the Madison Police Department to open and close the bridge. He said it had threatened to close the bridge except on special occasions.

On June 23, Trailnet curtailed the bridge's hours: "Due to funding limitations, the Old Chain of Rocks Bridge will be open between 9 a.m. and dusk until further notice. When the bridge is closed, please use the McKinley Bridge to cross the Mississippi River."

Last week, Trailnet Executive Director Ann Mack addressed the Madison City Council about the financial concerns. Here's an excerpt from the Press-Record story:

In an interview later, she that the shortfall occurred after funding from Great Rivers Greenway, a publicly funded park district which services St. Louis City, St. Louis County and St. Charles County, dried up.

Mack said Trailnet receives less than 12 percent of its funding from public sources and that the organization has received money from federal earmarks in the past.

Mack said Trailnet would be talking with local shareholders about the importance of keeping the bridge open within four to six weeks.

Hamm said it's important the bridge stay open because grants that the city received to improve the Illinois parking lot were tied to the bridge staying open.

The city of Madison owns the bridge, and Trailnet leases the bridge from the city. The bridge was constructed in 1929 and once carried Route 66 across the Mississippi River. Madison had operated the bridge as a toll bridge from 1939 to 1968, when the nearby Interstate 270 bridge took away too much traffic for the bridge to remain profitable.

Trailnet has had other problems with the bridge in recent years, most notably with car break-ins at the Missouri parking lot. Because of that, the Missouri parking lot now is open only for special events. Otherwise, people who drive cars to the bridge have to park either at North Riverfront Park, about 1.4 miles south of the bridge, or at the Illinois parking lot on Chouteau Island. Much of the Riverfront Trail on the Missouri side of the river remains closed because of cleanup from the recent flooding.

The Missouri Bicycle Federation also has reported on this issue, also citing the Press-Record story.

Labels: Illinois, Old Chain of Rocks Bridge, St. Louis, Trailnet

Roger 1 comments links to this post 12:31 PM

Friday, September 21, 2007

Catching up

Tour of Missouri on Versus: Highlights from the 2007 Tour of Missouri will be shown from 3 to 5 p.m. CDT Saturday on the Versus cable TV channel. If you missed the live video feeds last week, it will give you a great chance to see how hilly Missouri really is, not to mention to see Discovery Channel's last race in the United States. The two-hour show also will be broadcast from 3 to 5 p.m. CDT Wednesday, Sept. 26.

Floyd Landis: It was a shame, but not all that surprising, that Floyd Landis lost his 2006 Tour de France title. I really don't know what I can add to what's already been written in The Associated Press, VeloNews and other sources.

Late-night cycling in Collinsville: The 19th annual Italian Fest Paisan Pedal Push will begin at 11:59 p.m. Saturday for a short, leisurely ride through the city of Collinsville, Ill. The event begins at the Collinsville Memorial Public Library, 318 W. Main St. The cost of the ride is $12, and registration will close at 11:45 p.m.

Legislation update: Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich used his amendatory veto on a bill that would require bicycle and pedestrian ways to be given full consideration in the planning and development of transportation facilities, including the incorporation of such ways into state-funded transportation plans and programs in urban areas. Blagojevich said he would sign the bill if the wording is changed from "shall" to "may." The League of Illinois Bicyclists says the amendatory veto "gutted" the bill.

Break-in at Old Chain of Rocks Bridge: Bill McClellan of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch had a column in today's paper about a Charlotte, N.C., couple on a cross-country ride to raise awareness of brain injuries. Unfortunately, someone broke into their support van, which was parked Wednesday at the Old Chain of Rocks Bridge parking lot in St. Louis. Here's an excerpt from the column:

Ben and Lee Ann Berry parked their van at the Chain of Rocks Bridge and pedaled toward the Arch, By the way, at the entrance to the bridge, there is a banner. "It is quite possible that your unattended car will be broken into while you are away including your trunk."

While Ben and Lee Ann were away, somebody broke into their van.

The thief or thieves took Ben's computer, Lee Ann's cell phone and her purse, which had her credit cards, her personal identification and a number of coupons from the Cracker Barrel Restaurant chain, which is one of the Berrys' sponsors.

Sadly, break-ins aren't anything new at that parking lot. Trailnet, which maintains the bridge, provides secure vehicle parking at the Missouri entrance, but it's available only on Saturdays and Sundays from 11:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. until Nov. 1. After Nov. 1, the Missouri entrance will only be open for vehicle parking during special events.

Labels: advocacy, cycling, Illinois, Old Chain of Rocks Bridge, racing, safety, television, tours

Roger 2 comments links to this post 10:58 AM

Saturday, March 24, 2007

Old Chain of Rocks Bridge parking update

Starting April 1, Trailnet will make monitored attendant parking available at the Missouri entrance to the historic Old Chain of Rocks Bridge over the Mississippi River.

Monitored parking will be available from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Thursday through Sunday until November 1. St. Louis Parking will be collecting fees of $3 per vehicle and $10 for 15-passenger or larger vehicles at the Missouri lot. Walkers and bicyclists entering the bridge from the St. Louis Riverfront Trail and Madison County Transit's Confluence Trail will not be charged.

Because of vandalism and car thefts in the Missouri parking lot, Trailnet closed access to the parking area during the off-peak season when monitored parking is not provided. The bridge is open daily for bicycle and pedestrian access, from a half-hour before sunrise to a half-hour after sunset.

“Trailnet is committed to keeping the Old Chain of Rocks Bridge open to bicyclists and pedestrians,” Trailnet Executive Director Ann Mack said in a press release. “There is also free parking at the Illinois entrance to the Old Chain of Rocks Bridge."

Trailnet, in partnership with the city of Madison, Ill., renovated the bridge as a bicycle/pedestrian bridge. For many decades the bridge was a key link in the beloved Route 66 and was recently named to the National Register of Historic Places. Today, the bridge is a key link in the bi-state trail system and is part of The Confluence Project, a riverside conservation, heritage and recreation corridor being developed in the St. Louis region.

Labels: Missouri, Old Chain of Rocks Bridge, safety, St. Louis, Trailnet, trails

Roger 2 comments links to this post 12:57 PM

Tuesday, February 13, 2007

Spycams and bicycle trails

I share with you two stories that were published today in the Belleville News-Democrat that may be of interest to St. Louis-area cyclists:

Spy camera network will be put on island: The city of Madison, Ill., plans to install a $40,000 network of 22 spy cameras on 6,000-acre Chouteau Island to record who goes there and what they do.

Chouteau Island is a sliver of land between the Mississippi River and the Chain of Rocks Canal. Cyclists and pedestrians can access the island via the Old Chain of Rocks Bridge, which links Illinois with north St. Louis. While Interstate 270 goes through the island, the only way motorists can access the island is by crossing a two-lane bridge that takes Chain of Rocks Road across the canal.

Madison Mayor John Hamm told the News-Democrat he hopes the cameras will catch and discourage people who have been dumping old refrigerators, stoves and other trash on the island.

"It's totally crazy. I can't believe what I see out there," Hamm told the paper. "We even had a dead body out there a couple of months ago."

The new cameras will record pictures of vehicles and their license plate numbers on the island's road and the Chain of Rocks Canal Bridge. The story does not make it clear whether cameras will be installed on the Old Chain of Rocks Bridge itself or the Missouri parking lot for the Old Chain of Rocks Bridge, which is closed because of a rash of car vandalism and theft in the lot.

As for the lot, Trailnet -- which operates the old Chain of Rocks Bridge for the city of Madison -- is planning a meeting later this month with other bridge stakeholders to discuss what to do about security on the Missouri lot, Trailnet spokeswoman Kathi Weilbacher told the News-Democrat.

Seibert Road is undergoing a facelift: Commuters who use Seibert Road in Shiloh to get to Scott Air Force Base will have to be patient for the next few years while the narrow country road undergoes a complete facelift. Cyclists frequently use Seibert Road to access other roads as part of their cycling routes.

The entire project includes widening the road, adding storm sewers, curbs and gutters, the News-Democrat reported.

A 10-foot-wide, multi-use bike trail will be built along the reconstructed Seibert Road as part of the Shiloh-Scott Trail. Eventually, the trail will hook up with other bike trail systems in the metro-east and enable cyclists, joggers and walkers to travel from Troy to Scott Air Force Base.

Labels: cycling, Old Chain of Rocks Bridge, safety, trails

Roger 0 comments links to this post 9:50 AM

Tuesday, January 30, 2007

Old Chain of Rocks Bridge break-ins

If you're planning to do some biking, walking or viewing of bald eagles on the historic Old Chain of Rocks Bridge over the Mississippi River, don't plan on parking on the Missouri side of the river -- at least for now.

Trailnet -- the St. Louis nonprofit agency that leases the bridge from the city of Madison, Ill., and operates the bridge -- announced Monday that the St. Louis parking lot has been closed.

In Sunday's St. Louis Post-Dispatch, "On Your Side" columnist Matthew Hathaway reported on the rash of vandalism and car thefts at the Missouri parking lot. Here's the first three paragraphs of the column:

The Old Chain of Rocks Bridge may be the best place in town to take in stunning views of the Mississippi River. Last month, the National Park Service agreed and listed the 78-year-old span on the National Register of Historic Places.

Pity is that it's hard to take in the vistas midway over the 5,353-foot-long pedestrian bridge while keeping an eye on your car parked on the Missouri side. There is no security there and, not surprisingly, break-ins are common. It's so bad that St. Louis police posted signs warning visitors to keep valuables locked in their trunks.

Petty criminals may not be the brightest of the bunch, but they often are literate. And, usually, they know that most trunks can be opened from the inside, once you smash through the driver's side window.

The column goes on to describe a St. Louis County family's recent experience on the bridge, in which a thief broke into the car, popped the trunk and stole two purses. One of the women told the Post-Dispatch that the break-in was the fifth one reported that day.

On Monday, Trailnet Executive Director Ann Rivers Mack responded to the Post-Dispatch article. Here's the text of that response:

TO: Post Dispatch Editorial Staff
We at Trailnet value the Old Chain of Rocks Bridge as a tremendous asset to our region. We have invested significant capital into making Bridge improvements and are also invested in ensuring parking safety. We are extremely frustrated with the difficulties in addressing car break-ins at the Bridge.

Over the last six months, we have taken a number of steps to address parking including a three-season parking attendant (at a significant loss to Trailnet); warnings on our website; alerting 4,000+ e-Newsletter subscribers; and additional warning signs installed at the Bridge. Vandalism none-the-less continues and we are working on a long-term plan.

Currently, we are in discussions with Madison, IL and St. Louis Police and have closed the Missouri parking lot. The bridge continues to be open daily to walkers and cyclists.

Trailnet does not have the resources to continue to manage this community asset without long-term partners. In 2006, public funds represented less than 12% of our total budget. Given that Trailnet does not own the Bridge or parking lot, Bridge management plans include increasing regional stakeholder investment. These investments will better assure that the Bridge functions as a sustainable, safe and enjoyable venue for years to come.

We will update our website regularly on monitored parking and Bridge management plans.

Hathaway wrote a column about Trailnet's response in today's Post-Dispatch with the headline "Old Chain of Rocks Bridge: Odd solution." Hathaway is skeptical about Trailnet's temporary solution:

Trailnet is in the business of building trails and promoting walking and cycling. It isn't an anti-crime group. Still, Trailnet's solution to the break-ins seems hopelessly naive.

People willing to smash a car window may not be morally squeamish about mugging pedestrians and cyclists on the Missouri approach to the bridge — especially if a closed parking lot means fewer people will visit the bridge and those who do will be more vulnerable.

The Illinois lot for the bridge remains open. To get there from Missouri, take Interstate 270 across the Mississippi and the Chain of Rocks canal to Illinois Route 3 (Exit 3A). Take Route 3 south to Chain of Rocks Road. Turn right on Chain of Rocks Road, and cross the canal bridge. The road dead-ends at the parking lot for the Old Chain of Rocks Bridge.

You may be wondering why the city of Madison, Ill., is involved in the bridge. The bridge was built in 1929 as a toll bridge and purchased by the city in 1939. The city operated it as a toll bridge until 1968, and it once carried historic Route 66 over the river. The Road Wanderer Web site gives a pretty good overview of the bridge.

Labels: cycling, hiking, Old Chain of Rocks Bridge, safety, Trailnet, trails

Roger 1 comments links to this post 10:04 AM