|
Key Facts |
Bridge Name | Type | Road | Location | City | Crossing |
|
State Street Bridge |
Bascule (Truss) |
State Street |
Cook County, IL |
Chicago |
Chicago River |
|
Technical Facts |
|
Construction Date |
Structure Length | Roadway Width | Approach Spans | Navigational Vertical Clearance |
| 1949 | 307 Feet | 71.85 Feet | 5 Steel Stringers | 21 Feet |
The memorial name came from what I found on the official plaque on the bridge, and since it is such a mouthful, I doubt anyone calls this bridge anything but the State Street Bridge! This bridge is among the newer of Chicago's deck truss bascule bridges with a 1949 construction date. HABS HAER's 1942 date conflicts with the 1949 shown on the plaque. I would believe the plaque should be accurate! Perhaps the bridge was indeed started in 1942, but the World War II steel shortage prevented its completion until 1949?
Like the Wabash Avenue Bridge, these bridges are unusual for the way they extend above the roadway a bit. HABS HAER explains that this is so that the trusses can also serve as railings for the bridge. A consequence of this is that when viewed from a distance, the amount of truss is quite small under the deck. This bridge carries a whopping eight lanes of traffic, and has a third truss running down the middle of the roadway. The bridge is also noted for its attractive guardrail design.
