|
Key Facts |
Bridge Name | Type | Road | Location | City | Crossing |
|
Ruby Street Bridge |
Truss (Bascule) |
Historic US-66 (Ruby Street, IL-53) |
Will County, IL |
Joliet |
Des Plaines River |
|
Technical Facts |
|
Construction Date |
Rehabilitation Date |
Main Span | Total Length | Deck Width | Navigational Vertical Clearance |
| 1935 | 1972 | 256.8 Feet | 395.9 Feet | 44 Feet | 12.8 Feet |
This bridge has the distinction of being the first historic bridge on my website that is associated with a roadway that was once US-66, which is the most-loved U.S. route in the country. Although US-66 is no longer officially signed here, historic US-66 signage is present near the bridge.
While the city of Chicago has only one Scherzer rolling lift bascule bridge yet has dozens of trunnion bascule bridges, Joliet is the opposite and has four Scherzer rolling lift bascule bridges yet only one trunnion bascule bridge, and this is it. The bridge is very similar to Trunnion bridges seen in Chicago, however almost appears out-of-place here in Joliet. I am unsure why a trunnion was selected for this crossing. Either way, it is nice because it adds to the variety of historic structures seen in Joliet.
