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| Key Facts |
| Bridge Name | Facility Carried / Feature Intersected | Location | Structure Type | Construction Date and Builder/Engineer | |
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Harlem Avenue Calumet Sag Channel Bridge
| Harlem Avenue (IL-43) Over Calumet Sag Channel | Worth: Cook County, Illinois | Metal 8 Panel Bolt-Connected Polygonal Warren Through Truss, Fixed and Approach Spans: Metal Stringer (Multi-Beam), Fixed | 1964 By Builder/Contractor: Unknown and Engineer/Design: Alfred Benesch and Associates of Chicago, Illinois |
| Technical Facts |
| Main Span Length | Structure Length | Roadway Width | Main Spans | Approach Spans | NBI Number |
| 298 Feet (90.8 Meters) | 427 Feet (130.1 Meters) | 51.8 Feet (15.8 Meters) | 1 | 4 | 16032304066 |
This bridge is one of several truss bridges on the Calumet Sag Channel that date to the 1960s. They are noted for having built-up beams held together by rivets but having all connections being bolted. There also are some welded details. While not very old or overly significant, they are more visually attractive than any modern bridge could hope to be. In addition, these bridges are quite important in conveying the final chapter in the story of the historic metal truss bridge. The use of rivets only on the built-up beams in these 1960s bridges represents the final years of the use of rivets in metal truss (and any type of metal bridge) construction. Already at this time, historical techniques like using lattice and v-lacing on built-up beams had been largely abandoned. By the 1970s, rivets were abandoned completely. After around 1970, metal truss bridges might be built occasionally for specialized situations, but were largely abandoned as a bridge type considered for a new bridge project. In addition, any truss bridges built after approximately 1970 no longer used rivets, ending a historical construction method that had been used essentially since the beginning of metal bridge construction in the United States. The elimination of this final historical construction technique by 1970 is largely why HistoricBridges.org has set 1970 as the general cutoff date to consider a bridge for historical significance and inclusion in the Bridge Browser.
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Main Plaque HARLEM AVENUE BRIDGECALUMET SAG CHANNEL BUILT 1964 COUNTY OF COOK SEC. 039 - 1515.3 M.F.R. LOADING H20 - S16 - 44 |
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Chicago / Cook County Bridge NewsMay 15, 2013 - The Ashland Avenue Bridge over North Branch Chicago River has been recommended for Chicago Landmark designation by the Chicago Art Deco Society.
April 30, 2013 - Illinois Landmarks has included Chicago's Bascule Bridges as one of their Top 10 Most Endangered Historic Places. View The Official Page.
April, 2013 - The replacement of the outer trusses of the northern Wells Street Bridge bascule leaf is underway. The outer trusses of the southern bascule leaf has already been completed.
April 2013 - Spring Bridge Lifts Are Ongoing! The bridge lift schedule is available here.
Washington Boulevard Bridge - This bridge celebrates its 100th Anniversary on May 26, 1913! Click Here To View A Commemoration Article By ChicagoLoopBridges.com! (Alternate PDF Format)
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View Historic American Engineering Record (HAER) Overview of Chicago Bascule Bridges (HAER Data Pages, PDF)
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