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95th Street Bridge

   

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Promotions:   Chicago's Bridges   By Nathan Holth, author of HistoricBridges.org, this book provides a discussion of the history and virtual tour of Chicago's movable bridges. Dozens of photos.   Available Now Direct From The Publisher! The 5th Annual Historic Bridge Weekend will be held in Iowa and organized by The BridgeHunter's Chronicles this year from August 9th through the 11th. Details are available here.

Bridge Documented: August 11, 2006, September 7, 2011, and September 10, 2012

Primary Photographer(s): Nathan Holth

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Key Facts

	Bridge Name	Facility Carried / Feature Intersected	Location	Structure Type	Construction Date and Builder/Engineer
	95th Street Bridge	95th Street Bridge (US-12) Over Calumet River	Chicago: Cook County, Illinois	Metal Rivet-Connected Pratt Pony Truss, Movable: Bascule (Fixed Trunnion) and Approach Spans: Metal Stringer (Multi-Beam), Fixed	1958 By Builder/Contractor: Overland Construction Company of Chicago, Illinois

Technical Facts

Main Span Length	Structure Length	Roadway Width	Main Spans	Approach Spans	NBI Number
239 Feet (72.8 Meters)	343 Feet (104.5 Meters)	62 Feet (18.9 Meters)	1	4	16603823014

View Archived National Bridge Inventory Report - Has Additional Details and Evaluation

Some may recognize this bridge as the bridge that was made famous when it made an appearance in the Blues Brothers movie when the Bluesmobile jumps over the bridge in the raised position. In the movie, the bridge was painted the white color that the city used to paint its bridges until the city switched to the maroon color seen today.

This is one of the latest examples of the pony truss bascule bridge design that features curved pony trusses with riveted connections as was fairly common in Chicago. The bridge was opened to traffic on June 27, 1958. This bridge still operates for boats as do all the Calumet River bascule bridges. This bridge is a wide six lane structure. The bridge tower and abutments reflect the unadorned and perhaps somewhat streamlined architecture of the period. The bridge was designed to operate with 100 H.P. motors powering each leaf.

According to the Annual Report of the Public Works Department, the contract for the construction of this bridge's superstructure went to the Overland Construction Company, whose bid was $2,551,597. The Electrical equipment contracted was awarded to the Fries-Walters Company on a bid of $488,810. Overall, the bridge constructed about $5,700,000 to construct. Dick Van Gorp, pictured to the left, was Chicago's Chief Engineer when this bridge was built.

The previous bridge at this location was one of the first fixed trunnion bascule bridges to be designed by Chicago. However, its on-site construction was not completed before the Cortland Street Bridge was finished, also designed around the same time, so the Cortland Street Bridge is acknowledged as the first Chicago fixed trunnion bascule bridge.

Thanks to Tom Winkle for providing boat transportation to assist in the photo-documentation of this historic bridge.

Main Plaque EAST 95TH STREET BRIDGE THIRD AT THIS SITE --- 1958 --- CITY OF CHICAGO RICHARD J. DALEY Mayor GEORGE L. DE MENT Commissioner of Public Works DICK VAN GORP Chief Engineer STEPHEN J. MICHUDA Chief Bridge Engineer M. D. KRAUSMAN Asst. Chief Bridge Engineer J. R. BUTLER Bridge Engineer - Design

Historic Bridges of Chicago and Cook County Browse Bridges In Google Maps This special map has bridge markers colored by bridge movable type. Complete Bridge List

Chicago and Cook County are home to one of the largest collections of historic bridges in the country, and no other city in the world has more movable bridges. HistoricBridges.org is proud to offer the most extensive coverage of historic Chicago bridges on the Internet.

Chicago / Cook County Bridge News

May 15, 2013 - The Ashland Avenue Bridge over North Branch Chicago River has been recommended for Chicago Landmark designation by the Chicago Art Deco Society.

April 30, 2013 - Illinois Landmarks has included Chicago's Bascule Bridges as one of their Top 10 Most Endangered Historic Places. View The Official Page.

April, 2013 - The replacement of the outer trusses of the northern Wells Street Bridge bascule leaf is underway. The outer trusses of the southern bascule leaf has already been completed.

April 2013 - Spring Bridge Lifts Are Ongoing! The bridge lift schedule is available here.

Washington Boulevard Bridge - This bridge celebrates its 100th Anniversary on May 26, 1913! Click Here To View A Commemoration Article By ChicagoLoopBridges.com! (Alternate PDF Format)

General Chicago / Cook County Bridge Resources

Chicago's Bridges - By Nathan Holth, author of HistoricBridges.org, this book provides a discussion of the history of Chicago's movable bridges, and includes a virtual tour discussing all movable bridges remaining in Chicago today. The book includes dozens of full color photos. Only $9.95 U.S! ($11.95 Canadian). Order Now Direct From The Publisher!

View Historic American Engineering Record (HAER) Overview of Chicago Bascule Bridges (HAER Data Pages, PDF)

Chicago Loop Bridges - Chicago Loop Bridges is another website on the Internet that is a great companion to the HistoricBridges.org coverage of the 18 movable bridges within the Chicago Loop. This website includes additional information such as connections to popular culture, overview discussions and essays about Chicago's movable bridges, additional videos, and current news and events relating to the bridges.

Additional Online Articles and Resources - This page is a large gathering of interesting articles and resources that HistoricBridges.org has uncovered during research, but which were not specific to a particular bridge listing.

Photos and Videos: 95th Street Bridge

Available Photo Galleries and Videos

Click on a thumbnail or gallery name below to visit that particular photo gallery. If videos are available, click on a video name to view and/or download that particular video.

 

	Structure Overview Original / Full Size Photos	A collection of overview photos that show the bridge as a whole and general areas of the bridge. For the best visual immersion and full detail, or for use as a desktop background, this gallery presents the photos for this bridge in the original digital camera resolution.
	Structure Details Original / Full Size Photos	A collection of detail photos that document the parts, construction, and condition of the bridge. For the best visual immersion and full detail, or for use as a desktop background, this gallery presents the photos for this bridge in the original digital camera resolution.
	Structure Overview Mobile Optimized Gallery	A collection of overview photos that show the bridge as a whole and general areas of the bridge. View the photos for this bridge in a reduced size which is useful for mobile/smartphone users, modem (dial-up) users, or those who do not wish to wait for the longer download times of the full-size photos. Alternatively, view this photo gallery using a popup slideshow viewer (great for mobile users) by clicking the link below. Browse Gallery With Popup Viewer
	Structure Details Mobile Optimized Gallery	A collection of detail photos that document the parts, construction, and condition of the bridge. View the photos for this bridge in a reduced size which is useful for mobile/smartphone users, modem (dial-up) users, or those who do not wish to wait for the longer download times of the full-size photos. Alternatively, view this photo gallery using a popup slideshow viewer (great for mobile users) by clicking the link below. Browse Gallery With Popup Viewer
	Bridge Being Lowered Full Motion Video	View from roadway. Streaming video of the bridge. Also includes a higher quality downloadable video for greater clarity or offline viewing.
	Bridge Being Raised Full Motion Video	View from roadway. Streaming video of the bridge. Also includes a higher quality downloadable video for greater clarity or offline viewing.
	Bridge Being Raised Full Motion Video	Distant view. Streaming video of the bridge. Also includes a higher quality downloadable video for greater clarity or offline viewing.
	Eastbound Crossing Full Motion Video	Streaming video of the bridge. Also includes a higher quality downloadable video for greater clarity or offline viewing.

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