These bridges are owned by the Norfolk and Southern Railroad.   They are located on the Calumet River 3.0 miles from the entrance of the Calumet Harbor.  They are located between the 95th street bridge and the I 90 Skyway Bridge.

Visible from the Stevenson Expressway near Ashland Avenue is an unusual looking bridge.  This was called the Chicago and Alton Railroad Bridge.  It spans the south branch of the Chicago River.

The first bridge at this site was a bob tail swing bridge built in the 1880’s.  The current bridge was a replacement for this.  It was jointly used by the Chicago and Alton Railroad, Illinois Central Railroad, and the Santa Fe Railroad.  Construction began in 1905 and was completed in 1906.  John Page of Page and Schnable designed the bridge and later patented it.  It is a rare Page bascule structure.  In this design, the counter weight  is  built into the approach system.  The steel in this structure came from the Lassig Plant in Chicago.  The main span  is  a single leaf Page bascule.  The superstructure  is  riveted steel Warren through truss.  It  is 150 feet in length.   The approach span is riveted steel plate girder.  It was 64 feet in length.  The bridge rests on concrete abutments.   The roadway width is 34.3 feet.    The bridge tender house is at the north approach.

American Bridge company was the superstructure contractor.  The bridge was erected by Kelly Atkinson Construction Company.  Substructure contractor was Thomas Phee Company was the substructure contractor.  Electric contractor was G.P. Nichols and Brother of Chicago.

The bridge in currently not operational.  It is currently used by Metra, CN and Amtrak.

Photos added 5/7/18

 

The 95th Street traffic bridge over the Calumet River is 2.8 miles from the entrance of Calumet Harbor.    It lies between the Ewing Avenue traffic bridge and the Norfolk Southern Railroad Bridge.  The current bridge is the third one at this site.

The first bridge was built in 1891.  It was a hand operated Howe truss swing bridge.   It was constructed by the Chicago Forge and Bolt Company.  In 1899, the bridge split in two falling into the river blocking navigation.

The second bridge was built in 1903.  It was described as a fixed trunion bascule bridge.  It was built by Roemheld and Gallery.  Its dimension were 319.5 feet long and 60 feet wide.  This bridge was operational for 50 years.

Planning for the current bridge began in the early 1950’s.  Construction began in 1955.  It was operational on 6/271958.  This is a six lane bridge.  Clearance between the river and the bridge is 21 feet.

The bridge design is pony truss bascule.  The builder of the bridge was Overland Construction Company.  Engineer/Design was the city of Chicago.   Main span length is 239 feet.  Structure length  is 343 feet.  Roadway width is 62 feet.

Inspection as of 10/2011 is as follows.   Deck condition 6 out of 9 Satisfactory.  Superstructure 4 out of 9 Poor.  Substructure 5 out of 9  Fair.  Overall appraisal structurally deficient.

An interesting fact about this bridge is that it was featured in a film sequence of the Blues Brothers.

 

2.5 miles from the entrance of the Calumet Harbor is the Ewing Avenue traffic bridge.  The original bridge at this site was built in the 1890’s.  It was a hand operated iron swing bridge.  Its dimensions were 200 X 34 feet.   When the decision was made to replace this bridge, it was moved to a slightly different location to serve as a temporary structure to maintain traffic in this area.

The current bridge was built in 1914.  It was rehabbed in 1992 and 2013.  The superstructure was built by Ketler-Elliot Erection Company.  Substructure was built by Byrne Brothers.  The bridge design was a pony truss double leaf bascule.    This is an unusual structure on the Calumet River.  Other unique features include concrete counter weights and creosoted wooden deck.  Parts of the steel were from the Cambria Company.

The largest span measures 228 feet.   Total structure length is 337.8 feet.  Deck width is 36 feet.

Last bridge rating was:  Deck 7 out of 9  Good;  Superstructure 4 out of 9  Poor; Substructure 6 out of 9 Satisfactory.  Overall appraisal Structurally deficient .

As seen in the above photos, the bridge is currently in an opened position due to ongoing maintenance work.

    

     Travelling from the Calumet Harbor to the Calumet River, the first bridge encountered is an imposing structure known as the Elgin, Joliet and Eastern Railroad Bridge or the CN Bridge.    Prior to this structure there was a swing bridge at this location.

     The current bridge was built in 1974. The builders are listed as the American Bridge Company or United States Steel.   The structure is a Warren truss vertical lift bridge.  Main span is 242 feet.  There is one main span and two approach spans.  The bridge is active.

This traffic bridge is located between the Eight Track Bascule Bridge to the east and the Chicago, Madison & Northern Railroad Bridge to the west.

 

 

This is a metal rivet connected Pratt Truss,  bascule bridge.  This was a moveable bridge with a counter weight.    However, the bridge is now fixed.  The bridge tender house has been completely removed.    It is a two lane bridge.

This bridge was built in 1926.  Its steel is from the Carnegie Steel Company.  The main span length is 224 feet.  Structure length is 314 feet.    Roadway width is 38 feet.  There is one main span and three approach spans.

Bridge evaluation as of 12/2010

Bridge Deck 7 out of 9  Good

Superstructure 6 out of 9 Satisfactory

Substructure  6 out of 9  Satisfactory

Overall appraisal Functionally Obsolete

Recently this facility was known as the Joliet Correctional Center.  Other names included Illinois State Penitentiary, Joliet Prison, Joliet Penitentiary, and the Collins Street Prison.   It is located on Collins Street in Joliet.  In opened in 1858 and closed in 2002.

First 33 prisoners from Alton, Illinois arrived in May 1858.   The facility was completed in 1860.   The prison was constructed with prison labor under the supervision of Lorenzo Sanger and warden Samuel Casey.  The limestone used in the construction was mined locally.  Architect was William Boyington  (also designed the Chicago Water Tower).    The last prisoners were transferred from Alton in 1860.

By the early 1870’s, the prison population had reached 1,239.  This was a record for this time period.    The prison was very slow to modernize.  As late as 1910, there was no running water or toilets in the cells.

From 1896 to 1932, there was a women’s prison across the road.   This building was then used as an annex and later as a male reception facility for Norther Illinois.

Prison population was 1,300  in 1990 and 1,156 in 2002.

More recently there was a fire at the facility on May  30, 2017.  This was found to be an episode of arson.