The Kedzie Avenue Bridge crosses the Cal Sag Canal in  Robbins, Il.    It is situated between the Crawford Avenue and the Francisco Avenue Bridges.  It was built in 1964.  The builder/contractor is unknown.    Engineer/Design was Alfred Benesch and Associates.  Chicago, Illinois.

The bridge type is metal 8 panel bolt–connected polygonal warren through truss, fixed and approach spans: metal stringer (multi-beam), fixed.  There is one main span and 3 approach spans.   Main span measures 254 feet.   Structure length is 348 feet.  Roadway width measures 53.2 feet.

Findings that distinguishes as a more recent bridge include:  wide truss bridge, use of rolled and built-up beams for truss members,rivets for built-up beams and bolts for connections.

Bridge Inspection  3/2012

Deck                                            Condition                Rating     Satisfactory        6 out of 9

Superstructure                         Condition              Rating       Fair                      5 out of 9

Substructure                            Condition               Rating       Satisfactory       6 out of 9

Sufficiency Rating   44 out of 100

In the year 1889, subsidiary of the C&NW RR.  known as the Junction Rail Road was developed to build a bypass from the main line in Evanston at Simpson Street and Green Bay Road.  It extended southwest along what was known at the Big Ditch (predecessor or the North Shore Channel) to the Mayfair Junction in Chicago.   The purpose of this bypass was to alleviate congestion on the main line of the C &NW.  It predominately handled freight and industrial costumers.

The village of Evanston required the C&NW RR to also provide passenger service on this line.    Depots were built at Emerson Street, Greenwood Boulevard and the Weber Yard.  There were three trains per weekday.   Eventually this service was discontinued.

The Chicago and West Ridge Railroad was a railroad spur branching off the Mayfair Cut  near Oakton Street and extending to Lincoln Avenue.  This was originally built by the C&NW RR.  Barney Weber purchased the line in 1897.  The C &NW purchased  it back in 1917.  At the north end of the track was the Weber Yard.  This was a rail service facility that provided car storage and engine servicing.   This line serviced multiple brick yards and and flower nurseries.

Virtually nothing remains of the Mayfair Cut off and the Chicago and West Ridge Railroad.

Just south of Oakton Street, the author has encountered a bridge crossing the North Shore Channel.   This likely is a remnant of the Chicago and West Ridge RR

The Francisco Avenue Bridge crosses the Cal Sag Canal in Blue, Island, Il.   It is located between the Kedzie Avenue and the Blue Island Yard Bridges.  It is a metal 8 panel bolt–connected polygonal Warren through truss, fixed and approach spans: metal stringer (multi-beam), fixed.   There  is one main span and 3 approach spans.    The main span measures 252 feet.  The structure measures 364 feet.  Roadway width is 28 feet.

The bridge was built in 1969.  The builder/contractor is unknown.   The engineer design was Alfred Benesch and Associates, Chicago, Il.

Inspection as of 10/2012

Deck                                           Condition                    Rating         Satisfactory 6 out of 9

Superstructure                       Condition                     Rating          Poor              4 out of 9

Substructure                           Condition                    Rating          Satisfactory  6 out of 9

Appraisal  Structurally Deficient

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This bridge crosses the Cal Sag Canal in Blue Island, Il. It lies between the Chatham Street and the I 57 bridges.  It was built in 1964.  The builder was unknown.  Design\Engineer was Alfred Benesch and Associates, Chicago.

It is a metal 8 panel bolt-connected polygonal Warren through truss, fixed and approach spans :metal stringer (multi beam), fixed.  There is one main span and 3 approach spans.  Main span measures 289.7 feet.  Structure length is 371 feet.  Roadway width measures 30 feet.

This bridge is near identical to the Chatham Street Bridge.  Similar to this bridge, the Division Street Bridge was poorly maintained.   It is an excellent excellent example of a 1960’s truss bridge.   For safety reasons, it was closed in 2010.  It underwent an extensive renovation in 2016 and was reopened to traffic

The Chatham Street Bridge crosses the Cal Sag Canal in Blue Island, Il.   It lies between the Division Street and the Western Avenue Bridges.  It was built in 1964.  The builder is unknown.  Engineer/Design was Benesch and Associates, Chicago.

It is a metal 8 panel bolt-connected polygonal Warren through truss, fixed and approach spans; metal stringer (multi-beam). fixed.   There is one main span and 3 approach spans.    The largest span measures 303.7 feet.  Total structure length measures 384.7 feet.  Roadway width is 29.8 feet.

From the time of its construction until 2010, little maintenance was performed on the bridge.  This resulted in severe deterioration and eventual closure to traffic in 2015.

Like its twin the Division Street Bridge, this is an excellent example of a 1960’s truss bridge.    Extensive renovation was undertaken.  The result was the bridge was reopened to pedestrian and bicyclists on March 20, 2017.

 

This is a pair of bridges over the Cal Sag Channel in Blue Island. Adjacent structures are the Blue Island yard and the Western Avenue Bridge.  Builder is unknown.  Date of construction mid 20th century.

The bridges are metal 12 panel rivet-connected polygonal Warren through truss, fixed.    Largest span is 400 feet.  There is one main span.  There are two tracks on the east bridge.  There is one track on the west bridge.

The bridges were built for the Rock Island Railroad. The tracks lead to downtown Chicago.

The tracks currently service Metra Rock Island commuter trains and occasional freight trains.

 

The Western Avenue Bridge crosses the Cal Sag Canal in Blue, Island.  Adjacent bridges are at Kedzie Avenue and the Metra Cal Sag Bridge.   The Structure was built in 1966.  Builder is unknown.   It is a polygonal Warren through truss bridge.

The largest span measures 245.6 feet.   Structure length is 1,122.7 feet.  Roadway width measures 53.1 feet.

Bridge Inspection  9/2012

Deck                           Condition                  Rating           Serious.   3 out of 8

Superstructure       Condition.                 Rating           Serious.   3 out of 8

Substructure.           Condition.                Rating.          Serious.    3 out of 8

Appraisal. Functionally obsolete

    Written 12/23/2017

      Cortland Street Bridge (1500 West; 1800 North) crosses the North Branch Chicago River four miles from the river mouth.  In total, there have been 5 bridges at this site.

     The current bridge opened on May 24, 1902.  It is a metal 14 panel rivet-connected Pratt through truss, movable double leaf bascule (fixed trunnion) and approach spans: metal stringer (multi beam); fixed.  There is one main span and four approach spans.  Main span length is 128 feet. Structure length is 217 feet.  Roadway width is 36 feet.  This bridge is unique because it was the very first Chicago style fixed trunnion bascule bridge.

     Bridge was designed by the Division of Bridges and Viaducts City of Chicago.  Superstructure Contractor was the American Bridge Company of New York.  Substructure Contractor was FitzSimons and Connell.  Construction costs were $159,911.

  During the years the bridge has undergone many repairs and modifications. 

     Included were:

1923 floor replaced, buffers replaced, bridge redecked.

1951 street car rails and old timber deck removed.  Floor beams and almost all stringers replaced.  Several truss members and gusset plates replaced.  Approach roadways were rebuilt.

1968 Bridge was redecked with open grate steel deck.

1990 Bridge was converted to a fixed span. Operating equipment was incapacitated.

1997  Bridge superstructure and roadbed was completely restored and repainted.

     The first Cortland Street Bridge was built before 1849.  Its location was  called Clybourn Place.  It was a wood bent bridge.  It was constructed as follows.  Four large logs were sunk into the river bed 20 to 30 feet apart.  Long stringers were laid in pairs to connect the bent with the shore.  Framework supported timber roadway was laid across the stringers.  No information is available about the designer, contractor or the cost.   Bridge was removed in 1859.

     The second bridge at this.location opened in September, 1859.  Like its predecessor, it was a fixed wood bent bridge.  Like its predecessor, its designer, builder or the construction costs are unknown.  There was controversy about this bridge from the beginning.  Local residents wanted a movable bridge.  It was removed on April 28, 1862.

     The third bridge at Cortland Street opened in 1862.  It was a wood pivot hand operated bridge.  It was 100 feet in length.  It was designed and constructed by Fox and Howard.  Construction cost was $2000.  It was removed in 1873.

     The fourth bridge was built in 1873. It was a wood swing hand operated bridge. It was 140 feet long and 32 feet wide. 

    The bridge was designed and constructed by Fox and Howard.  Construction costs were $13,700.

  In December, 1900, FitzSimons and Connell began removal of the bridge.  The superstructure, center pier, and abutments were removed.  Project was completed on January 1, 1901.

Bridge Inspection Current Bridge 9/2011

Deck.                                Condition.                Rating     Good     7 out of 9

Superstructure.            Condition.                Rating.     Poor.     4 out of 9

Substructure.                Condition.                Rating.      Fair.      5 out of 9

Sufficiency Rating. 35.6 out of 100

     This is a bridge over the Cal Sag Canal between the Cicero Avenue Bridge and and the Crawford Avenue Bridge.  It was built in 1958.  There are 3 spans.  Largest span measures 299.9 feet.  Total length of the structure is 584 feet.  Roadway width is 46.3 feet  (edge to edge).  The deck type is concrete cast in place.

     Inspection 2014

     Deck                           Condition.      Rating       Good. 7 out of 9

    Superstructure.       Condition.      Rating.     Very Good  8 out of 9

     Substructure.          Condition.      Rating.      Satisfactory  6 out of 9

      Sufficiency Rating:  93.1