There have been four bridges traversing traversing the North Branch Chicago River at Fullerton Avenue (2400 West; 1850) east to west 4.8 miles from the river mouth.  

     The current bridge is the fourth bridge at this site.  It was built in stages.  The two northern lanes were built first. The prior bridge remained in place June to December 1960.  The old bridge was then dismantled and the four remaining lanes of the new bridge were constructed.  The completed bridge officially opened on September 21, 1961.It

     The bridge is a fixed steel and reinforced concrete structure.  It is 277 feet long and 80 feet wide.

     Contractors were:

Design:                    Division of Bridges and Viaducts City of Chicago

Construction:       William E. Schweitzer and Company

     Construction costs were $ 1.35 million.  

     Before the first bridge at Fullerton Avenue could be built, the street had to be extended from Ashland Avenue to the river.  The municipalities of Chicago and Lakeview both contributed to  construction costs 3/4 and 1/4 respectively.

     The bridge opened in 1874.  It was a fixed iron bridge   It was 225 feet long and 20 feet wide.

     Contractors were:

Design:                                             Fox and Howard

Construction Contractor:          Fox and Howard

     Construction costs were $5,000.  The bridge was removed In 1877.

     The second bridge at Fullerton Avenue was a wood and iron hand operated swing structure.  It was funded with contributions from Chicago ( 2/3) and Lakeview (1/3).

     Contractors were:

Design:                     Unknown

Construction:         I.W. Lavin Company       of

     Construction costs were $7,444.   The bridge was removed In 1894-5.

     The third bridge at this site opened in 1895.: It was a Pratt through Truss swing bridge. It rested on a rim bearing turntable.   It carried both traffic and street cars of the North Chicago Street Railway Company.  It was 164 1/2 feet long and 18 feet wide.  It had 5 feet sidewalks.  It was originally hand operated.  It was later converted to electric powered.

     Contractors were:

Design:                                                    Chicago Bridge and Iron Company

Superstructure Contractor:   Chicago Bridge and Iron Company

Substructure Contractor:       FitzSimmons and Connell Company

     Construction costs were $27,753.   The bridge was removed In December, 1960.

  Posted 1/31/2018

   For a short period of time (1836-1840) there were bridges at Pearson Street and Union Street crossing the North Branch Chicago River.  The bridges were Fixed wood bent.  Designer was unknown.  Construction contractor was unknown.  Costs were unknown. 

    Posted and expanded 1/28/2018.

      There is currently no bridge at this site.  Between 1868 and 1978, there were two bridges crossing north to south the South Branch Chicago River at Throop Street (1400 west; 2470 south) 5.3 miles from the river mouth.

     The first bridge opened in 1868.  It was a twin arch wood and iron swing bridge hand operated.  It was 152 in length.  It provided a connection between Bridgeport and the southwest side of Chicago.  In 1878, the bridge was replanked and repainted.   In 1889, new wheels were installed on the turntable and the bridge was rehabbed. In 1893, the bridge approaches were rebuilt and replanked. In 1897, the turntable was refurbished.

     Contractors were:

Design:                          Fox and Howard

Construction:             Fox and Howard

     Construction costs were $12,650.  Bridge was removed in 1902.

     The second bridge was opened on March 1, 1903.  It was built by the Chicago Sanitary District.  It was an electric powered Scherzer Rolling lift bascule bridge.  It has a history of multiple repairs.

    Contractors were:

Design:                                                   Scherzer Rolling Lift Bridge Company

Superstructure Contractor:             American Bridge Company

Substructure Contractor:                 Lydon and Drews Company

     Construction costs were $189,648.  Bridge was removed in 1978.

Photos added 4/9/2018

      Posted 1/13/2017

     Between 1860 and 1971, there have been three Erie Street Bridges (610 West: 670 North) over the North Branch Chicago River 1.9 miles from the river mouth.

     The first Erie Street Bridge opened in 1856.  It was a wood pontoon swing bridge hand operated.  In 1865, a flood swept the bridge away.  It was salvaged and rebuilt.  It was in service until 1971.

    The designer and contractor are unknown.  Construction costs were $5,000.

     The second bridge at this site opened April, 1871.  It was a swing wood hand operated structure.  It was 200 feet long and 32 feet wide.

     In 1889, the bridge turntable was rebuilt, the bridge house was relocated, the structure was repainted.  In 1895, the bridge floor was reinforced for street cars.  In 1899, the city made repairs after a crash with a steamer Charles Eddy.

     Contractors were:

Designer:                Fox and Howard

Construction:       Fox and Howard.

     Construction costs were $30,000.  The bridge collapsed under its own weight on May 18, 1908. 

     The third bridge at Erie Street opened on February, 1910.  It was an all steel electric powered double leaf bascule bridge.  It had only two support trusses.

     Contractors were

     Designer:           Division of Bridges and Viaducts City of Chicago 

      Superstructure Contractor:    King Bridge Company

       Substructure Contractors:     FitzSimons and Connell

     Construction Costs were $216,000.

    Bridge was removed on November, 1971

Photos added 4/11/2018

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     Written 1/11/2018

     Ogden Avenue crossed the North Branch Chicago River (950 West; 965 North) and the North Branch Canal (900 West; 1136 North) 2.9 miles from the river mouth.

     In 1924, a temporary pontoon swing bridge electric powered, steel through truss crossed the North Branch Chicago River at Ogden Avenue.  It was removed in 1931.

     On December 9, 1932, two steel double leaf bascle bridges opened–one over the North Branch Canal and one over the North Branch Chicago River at Ogden Avenue.  

     Contractors were:

Designer:                   Unknown

Construction: Great Lakes Dredge and Dock Company

      Construction costs were$4.6 million.

     Closed in 1993; removed in 1994

     Various sections of East Ogden Avenue were West of the North Branch of the Chicago River.

Photos added 4/21/2018

     William Ogden was a well known entrepreneur in the Chicago area in the 1800’s.  He was born in Walton, New York in June of 1805..  He spent his early life in the New York area.  He served one term in the New York State Assembly in 1835.  

     He relocated to Chicago in 1835 and soon was involved in multiple projects.  He was a promoter and an investor in the Illinois Michigan Canal.  He developed the first swing bridge on the Chicago River.  He served one term as Chicago mayor 1837 to 1838.

  As one of the members of the Chicago Land Company, he pushed for purchase of a parcel of land east of the North Branch of the Chicago River near North Avenue in 1853.  Initially, the land was used as a source of clay for brick manufacture.  Ultimately, a channel was dug arising in the North from the Chicago River and extending South to again join the river.  The canal was completed in 1857.  It was 50 feet wide and 10 feet deep.  This project resulted in a man made island called Goose Island.

     As a principle in the Chicago Canal and Dock Company, he was responsible for development of Ogden’s slip.  This is a boat slip paralleling the Chicago River on the north.

     Ogden shifted his interest from water transportation to railroad.  He helped to establish a railroad link to the North Branch Chicago River.  He was instrumental in creating the Galena and Chicago Union Line.  He served on the board of the Missippi and Missouri R.R.  For a time, he was president of the Union Pacific RR.  

     In 1871, he lost most of his property in the Chicago Fire. He relocated to New York.  He died on August 3, 1877.

     Posted 1/7/2018

There is no current bridge at this site.   There was only one bridge at Blackhawk Street.   The  bridge crossed the North Branch Canal (1000 West; 1500 North) 3 miles from the Chicago River mouth. It opened in May, 1902.  The bridge superstructure was the old West Division Street Bridge.  It was a lost Pony truss, iron and wood, hand operated swing bridge.  It was 180 feet long and 29 feet wide.  City laborers repaired the sidewalks, fences, roadway, chord coverings; overhauled turntable spider rods,drums and locks;rehabbed the bridge house.  FitzSimons and Connell  built the substructure.  

Contractors were:

Design:                                               Fox and Howard

Superstructure Contractor:         Fox and Howard

Substructure Contractor:             FitzSimons and Connell.

Cost Unknown

     On June 2,1904, steamer Black Rock collided with the bridge.  Bridge was removed and rebuilt.  It was returned to operation on 12/1/1904.  Bridge was permanently removed April 9, 1910.

Photos added 4/11/2018

Posted 1/6/2017

There is no current bridge at this site. Weed Street (1050 West: 1550 North) crosses east to west over the North Branch Canal 3.2 miles from the river mouth. There have been two bridges at this site.

The first bridge at this site opened on June 24, 1891. The bridge was the first lost Harman folding lift bridge. It was made of iron and steel and was hand operated It was 150 feet long.

This was a bascule type bridge. It has two leaves. Both leaves had two independent areas of rotation. It was also known as a Jack knife bridge. It was plagued with problems because of its multiple moving parts.

Contractors:

Designer: Captain William Hartman

Construction: Shailer and Schniglau

Cost: $8,296

The bridge was closed in 1899. It remained out of service. It was removed in 1905.

The second bridge opened in 1905. It was a reused temporary wood hand operated pontoon swing bridge. It was formerly used at North Western Avenue. The approaches at Wood Street were rebuilt.

Contractors:

Designer: Division of Bridges and Viaducts City of Chicago.

Construction Contractor: Jackson and Corbett.

Costs are unknown.

Removed April, 1910. There has been no bridge since.

Photos added on 4/11/2018