Blog revised and expanded on 1/2/2018.

    The  current North Damen Avenue  Bridge  (2560 North; 2000 West) runs North South over the North Branch of the Chicago River 5.6 miles from the river mouth.   It is the second bridge at this location.  It opened in 1999.It is a fixed arch suspension bridge.  There are twin arches.

 Total length is 313 feet.  Not surprisingly, an inspection from 2011 found the deck condition, superstructure condition, and sub structure condition all to be very good.

     The bridge was designed by Muller + Muller, Limited.

     Engineer was J. Muller International.

     Engineering Support was provided by Transystems.

     Construction was by Walsh Construction.

     Cost was $12.8 million.

     The first bridge at this site was a single leaf bascule Chicago style bridge. It had a Pratt truss superstructure. It had 44 feet wide roadway.  It had 9 feet wide sidewalks.  There were two ramped approaches.   There were two octagonal bridge houses in the Beaux Arts style.  It opened on January 24, 1929. 

     It was designed by the Division of Bridges and Viaducts City of Chicago.

    Bridge was constructed by Great Lakes Dredge and Dock Company.  Construction costs were $1.65 million.  Bridge was removed January, 1998.
     

     The south Harlem Avenue Bridge is a pair of bascule bridges over the Sanitary and Ship Canal located in Chicago between the Stevenson Expressway Bridge and the Santa Fe Railroad Bridge over the Sanitary and Ship Canal. The northbound span was built in 1931; southbound in 1966.  The spans appear similar.  The main differences are the lack of V lacing on the built up beams of the newer structure and the oval cut outs on the newer structure.

     The bridge design is unique in that it is a Warren deck truss.  Total length is 456 feet.  Roadway width is 56 feet.  Bridge is open but it is fixed.    Inspection as of 7/2012.  Deck Condition 6 out of 9 Satisfactory; Superstructure Condition 5 out of 9 Fair; Sub structure Condition 6 out of 9 Satisfactory.

These images were recently taken at the Belmont Avenue Bridge over the North Branch of the Chicago River.

     The Belmont Avenue Bridge (2600 West; 3200 North) runs east west across the North Branch Chicago River 6.8 miles from the river mouth.  This bridge opened in 1976. This is the fourth bridge at this site.    This bridge was a replacement for a prior bascule bridge.

     The current bridge is a fixed steel and concrete bridge. It is a four lane with a 21 foot river clearance.  It was designed by the Division of Viaduct and Bridges City of Chicago.  The building contractors are unknown.  The construction costs are unknown.

     In 1875, when the first Belmont Avenue Bridge was built,  the northern border of Chicago was at Fulterton Avenue.  On both sides of the North Branch of the Chicago River at Belmont were the communities of Lake View on the east and Jefferson on the west.   The Belmont Avenue Bridge was an iron fixed bridge.  It was 77 feet long and 17 feet wide.  It was designed and constructed by the King Bridge Company.

     Total constructed costs were $3290.   Three  government entities shared in the costs–Jefferson ($1,491), Lake View ($1,097), and Cook County ( $694).  This bridge was a 77 foot long and 19 feet wide bridge. 

     In 1889, the city of Chicago annexed Lakeview and Jefferson and took over ownership of the bridge.

     The bridge was removed In 1893

    The second Belmont Avenue Bridge was another example of bridge recycling.  It was the former Canal Street Bridge.  This bridge was removed in June,1892.  It was floated to Belmont Avenue.  It was then placed on the east bank.  Construction began in October, 1892 on a new bridge foundation.  However, the work was soon halted and did not resume until  June 10, 1893.  It was completed in August.  

     In October, 1893, the bridge from Canal Street was installed on the new foundation.

     The bridge was a Howe through truss swing bridge (hand operated). It was  200 feet long and 35 feet wide.

     It was designed by Abraham Gottlieb.   Superstructure Contractor was Abraham Gottlieb.   Substructure Contractor was Chicago Dredge and Dock Company.  Construction costs were $24,759.

     Bridge moved to area near North Avenue turning basin on June 17, 1911.

     From 1911 to 1916, there were a series of three temporary bridges at the Belmont Avenue Site.  The first was built in June 16, 2011 and the last was dismantled on on October 17, 1916

     Work on construction of the third permanent bridge began in 1912.  Project was prolonged by work stoppages from labor strikes.  Leaves of the bridge were installed May 10, 2016.  Street car rails, pavement and sidewalks followed.  The bridge was opened to pedestrians and single street car on October 17, 1916.  Work on the superstructure was completed February 6, 2017.  It officially opened on July 12, 1917.

     The bridge was a Chicago style double leaf bascule.  It was made of steel.  It was electric powered.  It was designed by the Division of Bridges and Viaducts City of Chicago.   Contractor was Great Lakes Dredge and Dock Company.   Cost was $268,033.  The bridge was removed 1976.

     The area north of the bridge was the site of two iconic businesses.  Northeast)  River Amusement Park in business from 1903–1967.  Northwest)  Henry Grebe and Company Ship Yard.  In business from 1926–1993.  It produced pleasure craft and warships.

This is a bridge over the Sanitary  and Ship Canal in Lemont.  It is located between the Lemont Avenue Traffic Bridge and the Cal Sag Sanitary Ship Canal Confluence.

It is a Pratt through Truss swing bridge.  It features v-lacing and lattice on various built up beams.   It was built in 1898.  The builder was the Keystone Bridge Company in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.  Substructure contractor was McArthur Brothers and Winston Company.    Railroads using the bridge included ATSF and BNSF.  Total cost was $84,391.45  Total weight of iron and steel was 2,315,656 pounds.  Counterweight is 858,645 pounds.  It consists of one main span.  Its length is 259.6 feet.  The structure length is 398.5 feet.

The follow images are of the Sanitary and Ship Canal Lemont.

This is a man made channel from the Calumet River to the Sanitary and Ship Canal.

This is a restricted nature preserve managed by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources.

These photos were taken from the Montrose Avenue Bridge over the North Branch of the Chicago River.

California Park  is a Chicago Park District Park on the northwest side.    It extends from Addison Avenue to Irving Park Boulevard; California Avenue to the North Branch of the Chicago River.

This is one of the six parks created the River Park District in 1917.  These were established by the efforts of local residents.  They sought to constrain commercial development along both the North Branch of the Chicago River and the North Shore Channel.  They also sought to provide for recreation opportunities in this region.  These parks were ultimately consolidated into the Chicago Park District in 1934.

The park features playgrounds, baseball diamonds and indoor facility for ice skating and tennis.  This is known as the McFetridge Sports Center.

Unfortunately, due to the growth of trees and bushes, the North Branch of the Chicago River is barely visable from this park.