The Legend Behind Illinois's Most Haunted Bridge
(Trent Jonas)
Airtight Bridge spans the Embarras River along a dusty gravel road in Coles County, Illinois. It's a lonesome spot with a dark reputation, where visitors who park near the bridge at night frequently report hearing footsteps on the bridge deck and a woman screaming from the banks. Whether you believe in ghosts or not, walking across this rickety, unlit bridge at night would be unsettling for just about anyone.
Where Is Airtight Bridge, Illinois’ Most Talked-About Haunted Bridge?
Photo by Neal Wellons via Flickr Creative Commons
You’ll find Airtight Bridge in Coles County, along the gravel road with which it shares its name, about midway between Charleston and Ashmore. Airtight Road is an active rural route that descends into the wooded Embarras River valley, which shields this stretch of the river from wind, making it eerily calm and giving the road and bridge the name “Airtight.” The bridge is a one-lane, steel truss bridge with a wooden deck designed by Claude L. James and built in 1914. In terms of eeriness, this old Illinois bridge over the strangely calm river rivals some of the most haunted roads in America.
The Legend of Airtight Bridge: What Locals Say Happens After Dark
Photo by Neal Wellons via Flickr Creative Commons
This geographic quirk creates the heavy, dead calm on the water and in the air, and it also fuels the folklore surrounding the bridge. Legends say that if you drive out onto the bridge at night, your car may stall out on the wooden deck, where drivers have claimed to hear someone crying for help from the muddy banks below and footsteps running across the grating. The bridge’s persistent lore could well place it among the most haunted places in the U.S.
The Real History Behind Airtight Bridge
Photo by Trent Jonas for Only In Your State
The bridge itself is an authentic piece of Illinois history that was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1981 as one of the few surviving examples of its Pratt truss design in the state. Its haunted reputation, though, is rooted in tragedy stemming from a highly publicized murder that scandalized Coles County for decades.
On October 19, 1980, a pair of locals happened upon the dismembered remains of a woman near the bridge. Because authorities were initially unable to identify her, she was known as Airtight Bridge Jane Doe and fueled local rumors until 1992, when DNA testing revealed her as Diana Marie Riordan-Small. Her murder remained a cold case for another 25 years, until Coles County Sheriff’s Office officials arrested her husband, Thomas Small, who ultimately confessed to the murder and brought a grim close to the decades-old mystery.
Why Some Illinois Locals Still Won’t Cross Airtight Bridge at Night
Photo by Neal Wellons via Flickr Creative Commons
Notwithstanding the rumors and the gruesome 1980 discovery, Airtight Road can be a dicey drive after dark: it’s narrow, unlit, unpaved, and several blind curves lead down to the old, one-lane bridge over the Emabarras. You basically just grip the steering wheel and hope nobody’s coming from the other direction, which is why many folks prefer to stick to the county’s main roads. Other spots could be considered more haunted places in Illinois, but for sheer creepiness, Airtight Bridge at night belongs near the top.
What To Know Before Driving Airtight Bridge
Photo by Neal Wellons via Flickr Creative Commons
If you want to see the bridge, go during the day (when you can actually see it). As you might guess, the bridge’s historic design is pretty interesting, and the wooded Embarras River valley is lovely. Be sure to use the pullouts on either side of the bridge to avoid blocking the road when you visit, and if you walk out on the deck, be prepared to hurry off if a vehicle starts to cross. Most importantly, although legends and ghost stories can be fun, remember this one involved a real victim, so be respectful of the place and Diana Riordan-Small’s memory.
FAQs About Airtight BridgeIs Airtight Bridge really haunted?
There’s no evidence Airtight Bridge is haunted, but its legend has circulated heavily since the early 1980s, according to Coles County folklore. Most stories center on the sounds of footsteps and a woman screaming. The road’s documented history includes the tragic 1980 discovery of a murder victim, which is where locals believe the story started.
Where is Airtight Bridge in Illinois?
Airtight Bridge runs along a rural gravel road through Coles County, between Charleston and Ashmore in central Illinois. It’s a public, single-lane steel truss bridge spanning the Embarras River, located roughly 15 minutes east of Eastern Illinois University.
Can you drive Airtight Bridge at night?
Yes, Airtight Bridge is a public road open year-round, but it’s unlit, narrow, and sits at the bottom of a ravine with limited cell service. If you go after dark, stay in your vehicle, keep moving, and don’t stop or park on the bridge.
What is the most haunted road in Illinois?
Airtight Bridge is often called the most haunted road in central Illinois, a title local ghost hunters have given it for decades. Other roads with well-known legends in the state include Bloods Point Road in Boone County and Shoe Factory Road in Hoffman Estates.
Source: Crime