Landmark Wilmette

Nestled in a wooded area of Evanston crossing the North Shore Channel is a historic railroad bridge.   At various times it was used by  the Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul and Pacific RR. and the Chicago , North Shore and Milwaukee interurban line.  Currently it is used by the CTA Purple line.

The bridge is a Warren through truss with all verticals.  Largest span measures 175 feet.  Total length is 425 feet.     It was built in 1909.  Bridge engineer was listed as Carlton R. Dart.

 

     This bridge crosses the North Shore Channel in Skokie, Illinois between Oakton and Howard Streets.  It was built in 1925 for the Chicago, North Shore and Milwaukee R.R.  It is currently used by the Skokie Swift (yellow line.)

     It is a double intersection Warren deck Truss.  Its largest span is 130 feet.  Total length is 835 feet.

     There have been 3 bridges at East Division Street (1200 North; 840 West).  These cross the North Branch Canal into Goose Island 2.6 miles from the river mouth

     In 2014, city of Chicago made the decision to a bascule type bridge due to its deterioration.   A contract was made with the Acrow Corporation to replace the bridge.  This company worked with the city of Chicago and the general contractor F.H. Paschen to remove and replace the bridge  within a 90 day period.

     The replacement bridge deck is epoxy aggregrate.  Bridge has  bilateral cantilevered sidewalks.   There are panel chords, diagonal and verticals.  Decking , raker brace, transom, top chord, brace, sway brace, transom brace, diagonal chord brace.   The largest span is 261 feet. Deck width is 36 feet.   It has two lanes for auto traffic and two bicycle lanes.   When installed, the bridge was to be a temporary structure for 4 to 5 years.   It still remains in place in 2017.

     The second bridge at this site opened on February 1, 1903.  It was a metal rivet-connected Pratt through Truss, movable double leaf bascule (fixed trunnion) and approach spans: metal stringer (multi beam), fixed.  The main span length was 173 feet.  Structure Length was 260 feet.   There was one main span and four approach spans. It was First rehabbed in the 1930’s.  It was also overhauled in 1969 and in 1980.  It was converted to a fixed span in the 1990’s.

     Contractors were:

Design:               Division of Bridges and Viaducts City of Chicago

Construction:  Roemheld and Gallery

Cost was $194,150.

Removed in 2014.

     The first east Division Street Bridge opened in 1870.  It was the first of the North Branch Canal.  It was a hand operated wood and iron swing bridge.  It was 176 feet long and 29 feet wide.

Contractors:           

Designer:                  Fox and Howard

Construction:         Fox and Howard

Cost:  $17,700.

     The bridge was removed In 1900.

    

Written: 1/9/2018 There have been 2 bridges at this site The current bridge crosses the  north branch Chicago River (1129 West; 1200 North) between Goose Island and the mainland.  It is located 3 miles from the river mouth. It is also known as the Charles Levy Bridge.  It was opened in June 4, 1904.  It was composed of 700 tons of steel and 500 tons of counter weight 

 

    It consists of one main span and and four approach spans.  It is a complex part through part pony truss bascule bridge.  The main span is 149 feet in length.  The structure length is 242 feet.  Roadway width is 36 feet.   There are three truss structures supporting two 18 foot roadways.    There are two 8 foot sidewalks.

     Bridge houses were rebuilt in the 1930’s;  new center locks were installed; there was machinery renewal and deck replacement.  In 1942, the bridge was redecked;there was structural steel repairs. In the 1950’s, plank roadway was replaced with open steel grids.  In the 1960’s, operator houses were replaced.  In 1993, the bridge was completely rehabbed.  The bridge was changed to fixed status.

Contractors were :       

Design:                                                    Department of Bridges and Viaducts

Superstructure Contractor:              J.E. Roemheld

Substructure Contractor:                  FitzSimons and Connell

Cost was. $256,315

It is refreshing to see an historic bridge in this area considering the modern ones located at North Avenue, Division Street over the North Branch Channel and the Halsted Avenue.

     The first West Division Street Bridge opened in 1869.  It was the first combination wood and iron swing bridge.  It was a Howe truss.  It was 180 feet long and 29 feet wide.It had a small bridge house.  

Contractors were:

Design:                      Fox and Howard

Construction:          Fox and Howard

Construction costs where $15,795.

Bridge was removed on May 1, 1902

Photos added 4/12/2018

     The city of Chicago has planned to replace the 114 year old Division Street Bridge over the North Branch of the Chicago River in 2019.    The group Friends of Goose Island is floating the plan to move the bridge farther North to create a pedestrian and bike path at Blackhawk Street.

Extending from the North Avenue region southward  is an old railroad bridge known as the Cherry Avenue Bridge.   The bridge runs north and south over the north branch of the Chicago River to Goose Island (an industrial area).  It is the only railroad access to this region.

In 1871, the Chicago and Pacific Railroad constructed a line from Goose Island through Elgin to Byron, Illinois.   This line was taken over by the Chicago, Milwaukee and Saint Paul Railroad in 1880.  This line was taken over by the Soo Line in 1986.  The Chicago Terminal Railroad assumed control in 2007.

The current bridge was built in 1902.  It was a replacement of a 20 year old bridge.  This bridge was built and designed by the Chicago , Milwaukee and Saint Paul Railroad.  This bridge is an asymmetric bobtail bridge.   There is an  134.5 feet long and 40 feet high Pratt truss arm that spans the channel.  There is a 70 foot arm that carries the 280,000 pound concrete counterweight 20 feet above the track.  The bridge is no longer operational.  When it was functional , it could swing to the east to an angle of 82.5 degrees  The pivet pier is on the shore of the north side.  It contains a single track and at one time also carried motor traffic.

The bridge was purchased by the city of Chicago in in 2008.  It was rehabbed in 2008–9.  New decking and lights were added.  Currently, there is pedestrian access and an occasional train across the bridge.  Near the Goose Island end of the bridge there is a city of Chicago water taxi site.

    

     Blog Posted and revised 1/12/2018

      There have been four bridges over the North Branch Chicago River at Chicago Avenue (640 West; 800 North).  The current bridge runs east to west 2 miles from the river mouth.  This  Chicago Avenue Bridge is an historic bridge of the pony truss bascule design also known as the second generation of this bridge type.  It has oval shaped bridge tender houses.   It opened on 10/15/1914.  It was converted to fixed status in 1992.

     There is one main span and four approach spans.  The main span measures 189 feet in length.  The structure length measures 291 feet.  The roadway width is 36 feet.

     Contractors were:

Designed:                         Division of Bridges and Viaducts Chicago

Superstructure:             Kettler Elliot Company

Substructure:               Byrne Brothers Dredging and Excavation

     Construction costs were $294,827.

     The first bridge at this site opened in 1849. It was a wood bent bridge.  Builder is unknown.  Construction costs are unknown.  It was removed in 1867.

     The second bridge at this site opened in 1867.  It was a Howe truss wood and iron swing hand operated bridge.  It was 175 feet long.  

     Contractors were:        

Designer:              Fox and Howard

Construction:     Fox and Howard

     Construction costs were $26,700.  The bridge was destroyed by the Chicago Fire. October 8-10, 1871

     The third bridge at this site was a swing wood and iron hand operated.  It opened in 1872.

     Contractors were:

Design:                   Fox and Howard

Construction:      Fox and Howard

     Construction costs were $20,850.  It was removed in 1911.

     For a short period of time there was a pedestrian pontoon bridge at this site.

The above photo demonstrates one of the permanent bridge tender houses on this bridge.

Bridge inspection(current bridge) as of 9/2011:

Deck Condition Poor 4 out of 9;   Superstructure condition Serious 3 out of 9; Substructure Condition Poor 4 out of 9.    Overall appraisal structurally deficient .

     The city of Chicago has announced that starting 9/2018, it will begin the process of replacing this bridge.  A temporary bridge will be installed during the replacement process.

    Revised and expanded on 1/10/2018

     The current bridge is the fourth bridge at this site.   It crosses North to South ( 600 West; 1047 North) the North Branch Chicago River  2.6 miles from the river mouth.  This is a modern double leaf bascule bridge.  It has deck trusses.  There is a single bridge house. There are four lanes of traffic.    There is one main span and four approach spans. The main span measures 154 feet in length.  The structure length is 267 feet.  Roadway width is 46 feet 

It opened on October 5,1955.   The bridge is now a fixed bridge.

Contractors were:

     Designer:    Department of Bridges and Viaducts City of Chicago

     Superstructure Contractor was Overland Construction Company.  Bid $1,657,329

     Electrical Contractor was Fries Walter Company.  Bid $261,691.

     Bridge tender house Contractor was Walsh Construction Company.  Bid 139,982.

     Northern approach viaduct Contractor was Michael McDermott Company. Bid $103,986.75.

     Demolition Contractor for the previous bridge was Pielet Scrap Iron and Metal Company. Bid $127,405.

     The bridge underwent rehabilitation in 2012.  Included in the project were replacement of floor beams, deck stringers and lateral bracing.  Bridge railings were replaced.

      The first Halsted Street Bridge at this site was financed with $ 2500 subscriptions from local land owners and $4500 from the city of Chicago.  It opened in 1866.  It was an all wood hand operated bridge.  It had a center pier. It was 140 feet long and 20 feet wide.

     Contractors were:

Designed:                   Fox and Howard

Construction:           Fox and Howard

     It was removed in 1877.
         The second bridge at this location opened on September 1, 1877.  It was a swing wood and iron truss hand operated structure.  

     Contractors were:                     

Designed:                                               William B.  Howard

Superstructure Contractor:              William B. Howard

Substructure Contractor:                 Chicago Dock and Dredge Company

     Construction costs were $14,000.

     The bridge was removed In 1896

     The third bridge at Halsted Street opened on January 19, 1897.  It was a steel electric powered Scerzer Rolling Lift bascule bridge. There were 2 sets of street car tracks in the center and wagon roadways on either side.  There were 6 foot sidewalks on either side.

     In 1910, the bridge was redecked. 

     In 1923 the bridge was extensively rehabbed.

     Contractors were:

Designer:                                            Scherzer Rolling Lift Bridge Company

Superstructure Contractor:          King Bridge Company

Substructure Contractor:              Wilson and Jackson

      Construction cost were $11,000

     Bridge removed March 1,1955

     

     Bridge  Inspection (Current bridge) as of 9/2011

Deck Condition rating good. 7 out of 9

Superstructure Condition rating serious 3 out 9

Substructure Condition rating fair 5 out of 9.

Appraisal: Structurally deficient.

     Posted on 1/9/2018

      The present Halsted Street Bridge (800 West; 847 North) runs North South over the North Branch Canal 2.8 miles from the river mouth. This is the third bridge at this site.  

      The current bridge is a modern replacement of a prior structure built in 1909.  The engineers were HBM engineering group.  The bridge is steel through arch.  During the replacement project in 2010- 2011, the existing superstructure was removed and replaced.  The substructure strengthened and reused for approach spans. New reinforcement concrete abutment on steel piles were used as supports for the main span.  Total length  is 164.4 feet.  There are two lanes of traffic in each direction.  There are bike paths in each direction.The

     Contractors were:

Design:                Division of Bridges and Viaduct City of Chicago.                                                Architect:   Muller and Muller LTD.

Construction:    Walsh

Cost was $13,097,568.

     The first bridge at this site was built in 1874.  It was an iron swing hand operated bridge.  It was 226 feet in length.

     Contractors were:       

Design:                         Fox and Howard

Construction:             Fox and Howard

Construction costs were $29,945.

Bridge was removed February, 1907.

     The second bridge at this site opened November 4, 1908.  It was a Chicago style double leaf bascule bridge. It was constructed of steel.  It was electric powered.  It was 206 feet long and 60 feet wide. It carries both street cars and vehicular traffic.  The street cars rails were removed in the 1950’s.   In 1911, roadway was paved with sectional wood pavement. In 1916, bridge houses were rebuilt.  In 1931, new floor was installed and several trusses were reinforced. New sidewalks and counterweights were installed.  In 1955, the bridge was resurfaced with open steel grids decking. In the 1990’s, the bridge was converted from movable to fixed.  The bridge houses were removed.

Contractors were:

Design:                    Division of Streets and Viaducts. City of Chicago

Superstructure Contractor:  J.E. Roemheld

Substructure Contractor:       FitzSimons and Connell

Construction Costs were $247,983.

     Bridge closed on December, 2010.

Along the Chicago River, the Calumet River, and the Sanitary and Ship Canal.  There are many examples of the so called bascule bridge.  The word bascule is derived from the French name for a balance scale.

These bridges are a type of draw bridge with a counterweight that balances a span throughout its upper course.  There are multiple types but they all share common features.  They have either one or two spans or leafs.  They have counter weights.  On the single leaf bascule these are above the bridge.  On the double leaf bascule bridges the counter weights are located beneath the bridge on the bank of the river.

There are three types:

The rarest in the Rall type.  It combines rolling lift with longitudinal motion on trunnions during opening.  It was developed and patented by Theodore Rall in 1901.  There are no examples in the Chicago area.

Rolling lift trunnion.   It raises the span by rolling on a track resembling a rocking chair. Scherzer rolling lift was a refinement developed and patented by William Scherzer in 1893.  The eight track bascule bridge on the Sanitary Ship Canal uses this type on some of its spans.

Another  type of bascule bridge is a fixed-trunnion.  It rotates around a large axle that raises the span.    This is also known as the Chicago type. This was developed by the Chicago Bridge Department.    The trunnions of these bridges are on the river bank.  These bridges uses two leaves to cross the river.   These bridge also use counterweights.

Another rare type bridge is a Page bascule bridge.  There were  only 4 of these type bridges.   There is one in the Chicago area.  It is a single leaf Warren truss.  It was designed by William  Hughes.   The gearing and motors are supported on longitudingal girders.  The counter weights are cast iron blocks attaches to steel plates on the approach structures.   This bridge design was patented by Page and Schable.