The Missouri portion of Interstate 255 travels 3.98 miles between I-55/255 at Mehlville and the Illinois state line midway across the Jefferson Barracks Bridge. Overall the freeway was completed on July 26, 1988 when the six lane portion between I-55/70 and I-270 west of Edwardsville was dedicated. The 26 mile freeway took 11 years to build and an estimated $550 million.1
Interstate 255 Missouri Guides
- East - Mehlville to Columbia
- North - Dupo to Pontoon Beach
- South - Dupo to Columbia
- West - Columbia to Mehlville
The Jefferson Barracks Bridge consists of two tied-arch bridges spanning the Mississippi River east of Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery to Columbia, Illinois. Construction on the current bridges commenced in 1978, with work on the first bridge just north of the old two-lane span. That bridge opened in July 1984 with four narrow lanes.
The old cantilever bridge was then demolished, leading to the building of the second arch bridge in its place. When it opened on December 3, 1990, the $78 million bridge carried three eastbound lanes as the 1984 bridge was converted from two-way traffic to three westbound lanes.2
 scenes |
  | Koch Road north at the eastbound entrance ramp for I-255/U.S. 50 to the Jefferson Barracks Bridge and Columbia, Illinois. 12/20/09, 12/31/23 |
 | Control cities for I-255 in Missouri use Memphis for I-55 south and Chicago, Illinois for I-55 north. 12/31/23 |
- "Completion of I-255 Takes Area For A Loop." St. Louis Post-Dispatch, July 27, 1988.
- "Jefferson Barracks Bridge Opens ...Crowd Braves Harsh Wind To Watch Span's Dedication." St. Louis Post-Dispatch, December 4, 1990.
Photo Credits:
12/20/09, 12/31/23 by AARoads
Connect with:
Interstate 55
Interstate 270
Page Updated 01-06-2024.