Deering Bridge

Bridge Documented: November 11, 2006

Key Facts

Bridge Name Facility Carried / Feature Intersected Location Structure Type Construction Date / Builder or Contractor

Deering Bridge Railroad (Union Pacific) Over North Branch Chicago River Chicago: Cook County, Illinois Metal Riveted Warren Through Truss, Bascule 0 By: Unknown

This is a massive railroad bridge that looms over anyone who looks at it. The bridge is not particularly long, it is just very massive. This appears to be due to the fact that it was designed to carry to sets of railroad tracks, which would greatly increase the amount of strength, and thus the size, of truss needed. There is v-lacing and lattice on various parts of this bridge, which adds to the intricacy and aesthetic value of the bridge. Large concrete counterweights, located overhead, are clearly visible.

Adam Kerman reports that "Deering Harvester Company was nearby (merged into International Harvester). Charles Deering was a director of the Chicago and North Western. It was built for the triple tracking project on what's now the Kenosha Subdivision." This explains the name of the bridge.