South Branch Railroad Bridge (Chicago, Illinois)

USA / Illinois / Chicago / Chicago, Illinois
 railway bridge, 1915_construction, vertical-lift bridge / lift bridge
The AIA Guide to Chicago says this railroad bridge was built in 1915. Vertical lift bridges of this type were patented by J. Waddell in 1893 and the first example was built on Halsted Street in Chicago in the following year. The movable center span, a riveted steel Pratt through truss, is 272 long and lifts 130 feet above the surface of the river.

The bridge still functions. Normally it is in the lowered position as train traffic is heavy.
Wikipedia article: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canal_Street_railroad_bridge
Nearby cities:
Coordinates:   41°51'20"N   87°38'13"W
This article was last modified 5 years ago