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Torrence Avenue Grand Calumet River Bridge

Torrence Avenue Grand Calumet River Bridge

Primary Photographer(s): Nathan Holth

Bridge Documented: August 11, 2006, October 2010, and September 7, 2011

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Facility Carried / Feature Intersected
Torrence Avenue Over Grand Calumet River
Location
Chicago: Cook County, Illinois: United States
Structure Type
Metal 14 Panel Rivet-Connected Pennsylvania Through Truss, Fixed and Approach Spans: Pre-Stressed Concrete Adjacent Box Beam, Fixed
Construction Date and Builder / Engineer
1938 By Builder/Contractor: Unknown and Engineer/Design: H. C. Taylor
Rehabilitation Date
1970
Main Span Length
306.0 Feet (93.3 Meters)
Structure Length
522.0 Feet (159.1 Meters)
Roadway Width
44 Feet (13.41 Meters)
Spans
1 Main Span(s) and 4 Approach Span(s)
Inventory Number
16093404567

Historic Significance Rating (HSR)
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Bridge Documentation

This bridge no longer exists!

Bridge Status: Demolished and replaced.

View Archived National Bridge Inventory Report - Has Additional Details and Evaluation

This bridge is very similar to the Sag Bridge on Kingery Highway. Like that bridge, this Torrence Avenue bridge is an amazingly complex truss bridge. Any truss bridge is complex, but this bridge utilizes the Pennsylvania truss configuration, which is among the more complex configurations. Moreover, there is a very extensive bracing network composing this bridge. The portal bracing itself is massive, and in between extensive lateral and sway bracing fills in the gap. There is extensive lattice present on the riveted built-up steel beams that compose the bridge which only further adds to the complexity of the bridge. The bridge retains original lattice railings on the cantilevered sidewalks, original floorbeams, and original deck stringers and the trusses appear to be essentially unaltered making the historic integrity of the truss excellent. The approach spans to the bridge have been replaced with pre-stressed concrete spans. The replacement of these approach spans does not diminish the historic and technological significance of the truss span which is individually significant as a long span example and unaltered example of its type. The bridge stands out as one of the most significant fixed truss bridges in Cook County's large collection of historic bridges. It is also one of the most beautiful structural works of art in the city, the beauty of the bridge derived solely from the functional superstructure and not from any architectural treatment or adornment. This is a truss bridge that clearly exhibits why a historic truss bridge has a beautiful geometric art found in no other bridge type and also not found in any modern truss bridge, which would be far more plain and simplistic in design. The maintenance and preservation of this bridge is essential.

Original PlansOriginal Plans

As originally built, the bridge had four simply spanning t-beam spans for approach spans. In 1970, these were replaced with pre-stressed concrete box beams. At that time, the deck of the truss span was also replaced. Additional repairs occurred in 1995 which included concrete repair of the substructure. A portion of the truss was cleaned and painted in 1997. The bridge sits on concrete piers and abutments that are built on a timber pile foundation.

The structural rating of the deck and superstructure for this bridge dropped dramatically in 2009. However the reality is that the drop was not because of the historic truss, it was due to the 1970 approach spans which had deteriorated and apparently were demonstrating that modern bridges may not be as durable and long-lived as historic bridges like the main truss span. The approach span superstructures will likely need to be replaced once again. On the other hand, the historic truss span remains in decent condition, however the time to make some repairs, especially to the lower part of the bridge where winter deicing salt has taken a toll has come. Additionally, the bridge would benefit greatly from a repainting at this time. If paint is maintained on a historic truss bridge, and the bridge is not overloaded, the bridge will not deteriorate and should offer centuries of service. Choosing to make repairs to the truss sooner rather than later will keep costs down, and reduce the amount of repairs and alterations needed for the historic bridge. At this time, rehabilitating this historic bridge would be drastically less expensive than demolition and replacement.

Original Plans

It is also worth noting that this bridge is owned and maintained by the Illinois Department of Transportation. It is right on the edge of Chicago city limits, and has been sporting a white paint job like Chicago used to use on its bridges, but is a state owned bridge. Originally, this was a bridge built and owned by the county. The bridge had standard Cook County plaques, but these appear to have been removed or stolen. The original plans for the bridge had a draft for the plaques, so much of the information the plaques conveyed was recovered as shown on this page.

Main Plaque (Draft As Sketched In Plans)

TORRENCE AVENUE BRIDGE
OVER LITTLE CALUMET RIVER

SECTION
STATE AID ROUTE
COOK COUNTY
BUILT 193

NAME OF CONTRACTOR
CONTRACTOR

H. C. TAYLOR
BRIDGE ENGINEER

GEORGE A. QUINLAN
SUPERINTENDENT OF HIGHWAYS

County Plaque (Draft As Sketched In Plans)

BUILT 193 BY
BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
OF COOK COUNTY

PRESIDENT CLAYTON F. SMITH

ROAD AND BRIDGE COMMITTEE
DANIEL RYAN
JOHN E. TRAEGER
CHAIRMAN
VICE-CHAIRMAN

FRANK BOBRYTZKE
WILLIAM BUSSE
H. WALLACE CALDWELL
CARL J. CARLSON
MRS. ELIZABETH A. CONKEY
WILLIAM N. ERICKSON
FRED FISCHMAN
MAURICE F. KAVANAGH
PETER M. KELLY
MARY MCENERNEY
GEORGE A. MILLER
MRS. LUCY PALERMO

Rehabilitation Plaque

STATION 21 + 26.71

LITTLE CALUMET RIVER

REBUILT 1970 BY

COOK COUNTY

SEC. 1112.1 - 15D - Z - BR

LOADING HS 20

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Historic Bridges of Chicago and Cook County

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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.

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Photo Galleries and Videos: Torrence Avenue Grand Calumet River Bridge

 

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Maps and Links: Torrence Avenue Grand Calumet River Bridge

This historic bridge has been demolished. This map is shown for reference purposes only.

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HistoricBridges.org Bridge Browser: View listed bridges within 10 miles (16 kilometers) of this bridge.

2021 National Bridge Inventory: View listed bridges within 0.5 miles (0.8 kilometers) of this bridge.

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