Revised and expanded 1/22/2018

      The Harrison Street Bridge ( 322 West; 420 South) crosses East to West the South Branch of the Chicago River 2.4 miles from the mouth.  It opened on August 23, 1960.   The current bridge is he third at this site.   It has four lanes of traffic.  The largest span is 209.9 feet.  The total length of the structure is 278.8 feet.   Bridge width is 43.9 feet.   There is one main span  and three approach spans.

     The bridge description is metal-rivet connected Pratt Railing Height Truss, movable double leaf bascule (fixed trunnion) and approach spans: metal stringer (multibeam) fixed.

Bridge contractors included:

Design:     Division of Bridges and Viaducts City of Chicago

Divane Brothers Electric Company

Substructure:   M.J. Boyle and Company

Superstructure:  Overland Construction Company

Bridge Inspection as of 12/2012

Deck                               Condition                           Rating    Satisfactory     6  out of  9

Superstructure            Condition                           Rating    Satisfactory      6 out of 9

Substructure               Condition                          Rating     Fair                      5 out of 9

     Beginning in the 1870’s, local residents around Harrison Street began lobbying for a bridge at this site.  In 1877, the bridge opened. It was an iron swing hand operated structure.  It was 175 feet long and 31 feet wide.

     Contractors were:

Designer:          unknown

Construction: American Bridge

     Construction costs were $24,875.  Bridge was removed in 1902.

     2nd Harrison Street Bridge opened in 1905.  It was a Scherzer Rolling Lift Bascule Bridge electric powered.  It was 185 feet long and 51 feet wide.

     Contractors were:

Designer:                               Scherzer Rolling Lift Bridge Company  

Superstructure Contractor :  Jackson and Corbett Company

Substructure Contractor:      Lydon Drews

     Construction costs were $272,606.  Bridge was removed on December, 1959.