LaSalle Street Bridge over the Chicago River

Bridge Keepers House

Revised 12/ 18/2017

The current bridge (100West: 307 North) spans the main Chicago River North to South 1 mile west of the river mouth. It opened on December 20, 1928. Its official description is metal rivet-connected Pratt Pony Truss double leaf bascule (fixed trunnion); approach spans: metal stringer (multibeam),fixed. The largest spam is 242 feet. Total length is 347 feet. Deck width is 56.1 feet. 1 main span and 3 approach spans

It is the first bridge at this location. It is one of the most ornamental bridges. There are 4 Bridge Tender Houses. 2 are really not needed. These houses have Baroque style ornamentation.

Bridge Keepers House

The bridge designers were city engineers Donald Becker, Thomas Pihlfeldt, and Clarence Rowe. Superstructure Contractor was Stroebel Steel Construction Company; Substructure Contractor was Central Dredging Company. Kelly Atkinson Construction Company was contractor for all 4 bridge tender houses. Electrician was Norwood Noonan.

Total cost was $1.8 million.

LaSalle Street Bridge

A tunnel was the first connection between North and South La Salle Street. Construction began on November 3, 1869. It was designed by William Bryson. Construction was done by Robert Moss. The project was completed on July 4, 1871. Cost was $566,000. Length was two thousand feet. Originally, the tunnel was designed for both pedestrians and horses drawn vehicles

Because the tunnel was dark, it was underused. It was more valuable to street car companies.

When the flow in the Chicago River was reversed, the depth of the river was increased. This necessitated a deepening of the tunnel. This project was completed on June 22, 1912. Use of the tunnel decreased. It was permanently closed in November, 1939.