The Split Rock is an interesting area of the I and M Canal in LaSalle County.   During  the construction process at this site, the canal workers blasted a passage through a ridge of limestone.  The  interurban electric line the Chicago, Ottawa, and Peoria constructed a bridge across this passage.

The bridge was a lost Pratt through truss bridge.  It is no longer present.  The photos above are obtained from the internet.

On one side of the passage, the Chicago, and Rock Island constructed a  tunnel through  the rock ridge.

 

      Revised and updated 1/18/2018

     The current Jackson Boulevard Bridge (375West; 300 South)  crosses east to west the South Branch of the Chicago River 2.2 miles from the river mouth. It is the second bridge at this site .  It is also known as the U.S. 66 bridge.  It opened on January 29, 1916.     It was rehabbed in 1993.

    The bridge type is metal rivet-connected Pratt Deck Truss (roadbed rests on top of the truss), movable double leaf bascule (Strauss trunnion) and approach spans : metal stringer (multi-beam), fixed.  There is one main span and three approach spans.   The main span measures 202 feet.  Structure length is 273 feet.  Roadway width measures 37 feet.

     At each side  of the bridge are bridge tender houses.  Style is Beaux Arts.  Shape of the houses is octagonal.  External veneer is pebble aggregate.

     Contractors

     Superstructure   Strobel Steel Construction Company of Chicago

     Substructure       Great Lakes Dredge and Dock Company

     Engineer/Design. Strauss Bascule Bridge Company of Chicago

     Cost unknown.

     

     The first Jackson Boulevard Bridge opened on August 25, 1888. It was a 3 Pratt truss steel swing bridge. It was initially steam powered. It was 280 feet long and 58 feet wide.   It’s center pier was near the West bank.  In 1897, the bridge was converted to electric power.  In 1899, the deck was replanked and repaved.  The iron work below the bridge deck was repainted.  The entire structure was overhauled.  In 1906, the deck was replanked and repaved.  New side walks were built.

     Contractors were:

     Designer:     Unknown

     Superstructure Contractor:     Detroit Bridge Company

     Substructure Contractor:         FitzSimons and Connell Company

     Construction costs were $131,633.

     The bridge was removed In 1915.

Inspection 11/2010

Deck                          Condition.                  Rating.        Good.   7 out of 9

Superstructure       Condition.                  Rating.        Fair.      5 out of 9

Substructure           Condition.                  Rating.        Fair.       5 out 9

Appraisal functionally obsolete

 

 

     The Illinois Central Bridge in LaSalle is an impressive structure crossing the I an M Canal, old Rock Island tracks and the Illinois River.  It was a single track bridge built for the I.C. Line in 1855.  The builder was the American Bridge Company.  The original bridge consisted of a series of cast and wrought iron Howe deck trusses resting on ashlar sandstone piers.

     In 1893, the superstructure was reconstructed with 16 steel spans Pratt Deck trusses measuring 150 feet in length. They have pin connections.  In 1920, 3 steel plate girder were placed  adjacent to the main span.  Each girder is 60 feet in length.

     In 1932, 2 deck trusses were replaced with a single Parker through Truss span measuring 300 feet in length.    This is supported by concrete piers.  Builder was McClintic Marshall Corporation.

     The total bridge length was 2,875 feet.  The bridge was used until the 1970’s by the Illinois Central Railroad.  At this time it was abandoned.

     The bridge and a short section of the South right of way was purchased by Buzz Unicem.  This was to service its concrete factory on the North side of the Illinois River.

 

    Revised and expanded 1/17/ 2018

    The Adams Street Bridge (380 West; 300 South) crosses east to west  the south branch of the Chicago River 2.1 miles west of the river mouth.   It is also known as the U.S.66 bridge.  It opened on August 26, 1927.   Th i was t The fourth bridge at this site.  It is metal rivet-connected Pratt Deck Truss, movable; double leaf bascule (fixed trunnion) and approach spans; metal stringer (multi-beam), fixed.   Because of the proximity of Union Station, modifications were needed. The West leaf of the bridge was shortened.  The counterweight was compact cast iron.  The counter weight pit was small. There is one main span and three approach spans. Main span length is 199 feet.  Structure length is 250 feet.  Roadway width is 38 feet.  In 1955, the bridge was converted to a one way bridge West bound.

     Superstructure Contractor was Strobel Steel Construction Company of Chicago.

     Substructure Contractor was Fitzsimmons and Connell Dredge and Dock Company.

     Engineer:  City Engineers Thomas Pihlfeldt, Donald Becker; architect Edward Bennett

     Construction costs were $2.5 million.

     Bridge was rehabbed in 1996 and 2017.

     In 2012, sidewalks were replaced with fiberglass material.

     Residents lobbied for years for a bridge at Adams Street.  Finally, the first bridge opened in 1869.  It was a swing wood and iron hand operated bridge. 

     Contractors were:

Designer: Fox and Howard

Construction:  Fox and Howard

     Construction costs were $36,800.  It was destroyed in the Chicago Fire October 8–10, 1871.

     The second Adams Street Bridge opened in 1872.  It was an iron swing hand operated bridge.  It was 160 feet long and 32 feet wide.  

     Contractors were:

Designer:     Keystone Bridge Company

Construction:  Let some Bridge Company

     Construction costs were $47,790.

     Moved to Taylor Street in 1889.

     The third Adams Street Bridge opened in 1889.  It was a large steel Pratt truss swing bridge.  It was electric powered.    It was 259 feet long and 59 feet wide.  It was a four track bridge.  The bridge cost  of $141,115 was shared between the City of Chicago and the Chicago Passenger Railway Company (ran street cars over the bridge).

     Contractors were:

Design:          Keystone Bridge Company

Superstructure Contractor:     Keystone Bridge Company

Substructure Contractors:   Fox and Howard

     Construction was were $141,115.   Bridge closed on August 31, 1925.  Physically removed between September,1925 and June, 1926.

 

     Bridge Inspection 10/2011

Deck                         Condition                  Rating                 Fair     5 out of 9

Superstructure     Condition                  Rating                Poor   4 out of 9

Substructure        Condition                  Rating                  Fair   5 out of 9

Appraisal:  Structurally deficient

  

   Revised and expanded on 1/17/2018

    The current Monroe Street Bridge (378 West; 50 South) is the first and only one over the South Branch of the Chicago River.  It crosses the South Branch east to west 2 miles from the river mouth.   It opened on February 22, 1919..  The bridge type is a metal rivet-connected Pratt Pony Truss, movable; double leaf bascule (fixed trunnion) and approach spans;metal stringer (multi-beam) fixed.    There is one main span and 3 approach spans.  At one time, there were ornamental pillars at each end of the bridge.  Also, at one time, there were arched overhead beams.  These were for support for the street car cables.  Neither one of these is currently present.  The bridge tender houses are granite faced octagonal structures.

     The main span measures 193 feet.  Overall structure length is 271 feet.  Roadway width measures 36 feet.

     Contractors were:

     Design:     City Bureau of Engineering; architect Edward Bennett

     Superstructure  Ketler and Elliott.

     Substructure. Fitzsimons and Connell Dredge and Dock Company

Construction costs were: $525,447.

     Inspection 12/2010

Deck                                       Condition    Rating   Very Good  8 out of 9

Superstructure                    Condition    Rating     Good   7 out of 9

Substructure                         Condition.  Rating.   Good   7 out of 9

Appraisal. Functionally Obsolete

     Revised and expanded 1/16/2017

     The Madison Street Bridge (378 West; 50 South) crosses the South branch of the Chicago River east to west 2 miles from the river mouth.  It is also known as the Lyric Opera Bridge.   This is the sixth bridge at this locr. It opened on November 29, 1922.  The bridge type is metal rivet-connected Pratt railing Height Truss, movable; double leaf bascule (fixed trunnion) and approach spans: metal stringer (multi-beam) fixed.

     There is one main span and three approach spans.  The main span length is 221 feet.  The structure length is 283.2 feet.  Roadway width is 38 feet.   This was the first bascule bridge in Chicago with a truss configuration that is partially a pony truss and partially a deck truss.

     Contractors:

Design:  City Bureau of Engineering, City of Chicago

                   Architect  Edward Bennett

Superstructure Contractor:         Kettler Elliot Company of Chicago.

Substructure Contractor:            FitzSimons and Connell Company

     Construction Costs were $1,622,000

     The bridge was rehabbed in 1958 and 1994.

     The first bridge at this site opened in 1847.  It was a wood pontoon float swing bridge, hand operated.

     Contractors were:

Designer:

     Plan of Common Council

Construction:

     S. Peck, L.M. Boyce, and E.S. Wadsworth.

     Construction costs were $3500.

     Destroyed by a flood  March 12, 1849

     Second bridge at this site opened June, 1849.  It was a pontoon turntable wood hand operated.  

     Contractors were:

Design:    

      Common Council City of Chicago

Construction:

     Common Council City of Chicago

     Construction costs were $ 4,000.

     Bridge removed winter, 1856.

   The third bridge at this site opened June, 1857.  It was an iron swing hand operated bridge that combined two Mossely tubular arches end to end over a center pier.  It was 155 feet long.

    Contractors were:

Designer: City of Chicago, Gregory, Bandon, and Robinson

Contractor: Gaylord

    Construction costs were $42,000.    Bridge was removed in 1875.

    Fourth bridge at this site opened in 1875.  It was a Pratt truss iron swing steam powered bridge. It was 158 feet long and 30 1/2 feet wide. The old center pier was reused.  The masonry approaches and sidewalks were rebuilt.

     Contractors were:   

Design : American Bridge Company

Contractors:  American Bridge Company

     Construction costs were $15,000.  Bridge was removed in 1891.

     The fifth bridge at this site opened on October 16, 1951.  It was a steel swing electric powered. It had two trusses and four traffic lanes.

     Contractors were:

     Designer: Unknown

     Superstructure Contractor:  Riter and Conley

     Substructure Contractor:  FitzSimons and Connell

     Construction costs were $104,500.

     Bridge was removed September to November, 1922.

Bridge Inspection 10/2011

Deck                                         Condition       Rating        Very Good 8 out of 9

Superstructure                      Condition         Rating         Good   7 out of 9

Substructure.                         Condition         Rating       Satisfactory 6 out 9

Sufficiency Rating. 76 out of 100

Revised and expanded on 1/3/2018

     The current Washington Boulevard Bridge (364 West; 50 North)  over the South Branch of the Chicago River is the second bridge at this location.  It is 1.8 miles from the river mouth.  It opened on May 26, 1913.  The bridge type is a metal rivet -connected Pratt Pony Truss, Movable: double leaf bascule (fixed trunnion) and approach spans metal stringer (multibeam), fixed.  There is one main span and 3 approach spans.  The bridge houses have wood side panels and hipped roofs.

     The main span length is 197 feet. The structure length is 303.5 feet. The roadway width is 36 feet.    This bridge was considered the most ornate of the double leaf bascule bridges during this time period.

Contractors for this project were:

Design:  City Bureau of Engineering and architect Edward Bennett

Superstructure:  Strobel Steel Construction Company of Chicago

Superstructure.  FitzSimons and Connell Dredge and Dock Company.

Engineer/Design City of Chicago

Construction costs were $238, 288.

     The first Washington Boulevard Bridge opened in 1891.  It was an iron swing bridge initially powered by steam; later electric.  The superstructure was the old Madison Street Pratt Truss Bridge.  The Substructure was constructed by the West Chicago Street Railway Company.

Design: American Bridge Company

Superstructure Contractor was American Bridge Company.

Substructure Contractor was FitzSimons and Connell Company

Cost was $67,594

Bridge was transferred on January 3, 1907

     At this site in 1869, a tunnel for pedestrian and wagons was built.  It was the first tunnel under the Chicago River.   The contractor was J.L. Lake.  The tunnel was 1,605 feet long.  It extended from Franklin Street to Clinton Street.   Construction cost was $517,000.  It was built with masonry.

     Around 1884, the tunnel began leaking. It was closed.  In 1888, it was leased by the Western Chicago Railroad.    They renovated the tunnel for cable car servive.  It opened in 1890.

     When the flow of the Chicago River was reversed, the water level dropped.  The roof of the tunnel became exposed.  Several ships ran aground on it.  The tunnel was closed by the federal government in 1906. 

     A widened deepened tunnel was built of concrete. Contractor was George Jackson.

     The tunnel was reopened for street car service in 2011.  It was in use until 1953.

     

     The first bridge was built at this site in 1875.  It was an iron swing bridge built by the American Bridge Company.  It was 157 feet long and 31.5 feet wide.  The next bridge was erected at this site in 1891. It was formerly the Madison Avenue Bridge over south branch of the Chicago River. It was a swing bridge.  It was demolished in 1907.

     Currently, this bridge averages 40 raises/year.

     Inspection 10/2011

Deck                               Condition.                Rating.        Fair  5 out 9

Superstructure            Condition                Rating         Poor 4 out of 9 

Substructure.              Condition.               Rating          Satisfactory  6 out of 9
Appraisal:    Structurally deficient

 

     This bridge crosses the I and M Canal 5 miles from the Morris City limits.   It is also called Old Stage Road Bridge.

    It was built in 1995.  It is an all wood closed spandel arch bridge.  It was built by Belvidere Construction of Belvidere, Il.  The designer was Graef, Anhalt, Schloemer and Associates of Chicago, Il.  

    THe largest span is 126.6 feet.  Total length is 130.3 feet.  Structure width is 25.9 feet.

Bridge Inspection as of 9/2014

Deck Condition                            Rating.      Very good   8 out of 9

Superstructure.                            Rating.      Very good   8 out of 9

Substructure.                                Rating.       Very Good  8 out of 9

     There are limestone piers adjacent to Lock 15  I and M Canal.  This was the site of a prior C,B,Q R.R. Bridge.    This was damaged and removed in 1979.  According to historical records, the bridge was built by King Bridge Company of Cleveland, Ohio.    It was lost through truss bridge