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This bridge is one of several truss bridges on the Calumet Sag Channel that date to the 1960s. They are noted for having built-up beams held together by rivets but having all connections being bolted. There also are some welded details. While not very old or overly significant, they are more visually attractive than any modern bridge could hope to be. In addition, these bridges are quite important in conveying the final chapter in the story of the historic metal truss bridge. The use of rivets only on the built-up beams in these 1960s bridges represents the final years of the use of rivets in metal truss (and any type of metal bridge) construction. Already at this time, historical techniques like using lattice and v-lacing on built-up beams had been largely abandoned. By the 1970s, rivets were abandoned completely. After around 1970, metal truss bridges might be built occasionally for specialized situations, but were largely abandoned as a bridge type considered for a new bridge project. In addition, any truss bridges built after approximately 1970 no longer used rivets, ending a historical construction method that had been used essentially since the beginning of metal bridge construction in the United States. The elimination of this final historical construction technique by 1970 is largely why HistoricBridges.org has set 1970 as the general cutoff date to consider a bridge for historical significance and inclusion in the Bridge Browser.
This particular bridge is about as close as one can get to a rural bridge on the Cal-Sag Channel. Located on a road that is not quite a busy as most of the other crossings on the channel, the bridge is only two lanes wide and has a slightly narrower deck as a result.
Like other Calumet Sag Channel bridges, this fixed truss bridge was designed such that, as indicated in the original plans for the bridge, the structure could be converted to a vertical lift bridge by the addition of towers in the future if increased clearance for boats was ever needed in future years. This need has never presented itself however, so these changes have never taken place.
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Main Plaque 104 TH AVENUE BRIDGECALUMET SAG CHANNEL BUILT 1964 BY COUNTY OF COOK SEC. 018-0405.2-M.F.T. LOADING H20-S16-44 |
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View Historic American Engineering Record (HAER) Overview of Chicago Bascule Bridges (HAER Data Pages, PDF)
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