View Information About HSR Ratings
This is Chicago's longest-spanning pony truss trunnion bascule bridge. It is also one of the newer examples with a 1949 construction date. This bridge's superstructure was built by the Mount Vernon Bridge Company of Mount Vernon, Ohio. The Mount Vernon Bridge Company is of interest because it is one of a few bridge companies that built pin connected truss bridges in the late 19th century and did not go out of business or get bought out in the 20th century.
This bridge was painted white for many years but by 2010 had been repainted the maroon color that Chicago has switched to as its preferred bridge paint color.
The first documented bridge at this location was a bridge listed in the Annual Report of the Department of Public Works as a Howe truss built by A. Gottlieb and Company. Soon after it was built, the United States Government condemned the bridge as an obstruction to navigation, so it was relocated and reused at Belmont Avenue in 1892. In 1893, a rare and unusual folding jack-knife bridge was built at this location which provided an 89 foot span with an overall length of 100 feet and a width of 35 feet. The bridge was listed as being made of steel and was built by Shailer and Schniglau. Operated by steam, this bridge was the second example of this ultimately unsuccessful bridge type, the first having been built at Weed Street in 1891 under a patent by Captain William Harmon. In 1903, a Scherzer rolling lift bascule bridge replaced the folding bridge. The bascule bridge superstructure contractor was the American Bridge Company.
Photo Credit: Patrick Hynes
|
Main Plaque S. CANAL ST. BRIDGEFOURTH AT THIS SITE --- 1949 --- CITY OF CHICAGO MARTIN H. KENNELLY Mayor OSCAR E. HEWITT Commissioner of Public Works JOHN P. WILSON Deputy Comm. of Public Works W. W. DE BERARD City Engineer STEPHEN J. MICHUDA City Bridge & Viad. Engineer
CARL O. JOHNSON Asst. Bridge Engineer (Constr.) CONTRACTORS Midwest Construction & Asphalt Co. The Mount Vernon Bridge Co. Simpson Construction Co. Divane Bros. Electric Co. |
Chicago and Cook County are home to one of the largest collections of historic bridges in the country, and no other city in the world has more movable bridges. HistoricBridges.org is proud to offer the most extensive coverage of historic Chicago bridges on the Internet.
General Chicago / Cook County Bridge Resources
Chicago's Bridges - By Nathan Holth, author of HistoricBridges.org, this book provides a discussion of the history of Chicago's movable bridges, and includes a virtual tour discussing all movable bridges remaining in Chicago today. Despite this broad coverage, the book is presented in a compact format that is easy to take with you and carry around for reference on a visit to Chicago. The book includes dozens of full color photos. Only $9.95 U.S! ($11.95 Canadian). Order Now Direct From The Publisher! or order on Amazon.
Chicago River Bridges - By Patrick T. McBriarty, this is a great companion to Holth's book shown above. This much larger book offers an extremely in-depth exploration of Chicago's movable highway bridges, including many crossings that have not existed for many years. Order Now Direct From The Publisher! or order on Amazon.
View Historic American Engineering Record (HAER) Overview of Chicago Bascule Bridges (HAER Data Pages, PDF)
Chicago Loop Bridges - Chicago Loop Bridges is another website on the Internet that is a great companion to the HistoricBridges.org coverage of the 18 movable bridges within the Chicago Loop. This website includes additional information such as connections to popular culture, overview discussions and essays about Chicago's movable bridges, additional videos, and current news and events relating to the bridges.
Additional Online Articles and Resources - This page is a large gathering of interesting articles and resources that HistoricBridges.org has uncovered during research, but which were not specific to a particular bridge listing.
Coordinates (Latitude, Longitude):
Search For Additional Bridge Listings:
Bridgehunter.com: View listed bridges within 0.5 miles (0.8 kilometers) of this bridge.
Bridgehunter.com: View listed bridges within 10 miles (16 kilometers) of this bridge.
Additional Maps:
Google Streetview (If Available)
GeoHack (Additional Links and Coordinates)
Apple Maps (Via DuckDuckGo Search)
Apple Maps (Apple devices only)
Android: Open Location In Your Map or GPS App
Flickr Gallery (Find Nearby Photos)
Wikimedia Commons (Find Nearby Photos)
Directions Via Sygic For Android
Directions Via Sygic For iOS and Android Dolphin Browser
USGS National Map (United States Only)
Historical USGS Topo Maps (United States Only)
Historic Aerials (United States Only)
CalTopo Maps (United States Only)
© Copyright 2003-2024, HistoricBridges.org. All Rights Reserved. Disclaimer: HistoricBridges.org is a volunteer group of private citizens. HistoricBridges.org is NOT a government agency, does not represent or work with any governmental agencies, nor is it in any way associated with any government agency or any non-profit organization. While we strive for accuracy in our factual content, HistoricBridges.org offers no guarantee of accuracy. Information is provided "as is" without warranty of any kind, either expressed or implied. Information could include technical inaccuracies or errors of omission. Opinions and commentary are the opinions of the respective HistoricBridges.org member who made them and do not necessarily represent the views of anyone else, including any outside photographers whose images may appear on the page in which the commentary appears. HistoricBridges.org does not bear any responsibility for any consequences resulting from the use of this or any other HistoricBridges.org information. Owners and users of bridges have the responsibility of correctly following all applicable laws, rules, and regulations, regardless of any HistoricBridges.org information.
