View Information About HSR Ratings
Note: This modern bridge is not historic. This page is provided for reasons of comparison and continuity of downtown Chicago listings only.
This bridge was built in 1982. HistoricBridges.org has a policy to not include any bridge newer than 1970, however exceptions were made with two bridges in the downtown Loop area of Chicago so that those planning a tour of the Loop bridges can get information on all Loop bridges from HistoricBridges.org and also not be confused by gaps in the tour.
Including this non-historic bridge on HistoricBridges.org is also an opportunity to make a comparison to the historic bridges. There is a stark difference between even the younger 1960s bascule bridges in Chicago and this non-historic bridge. The extremely simplistic superstructure of the bridge as well as a lack of adornment on bridgetender buildings makes the modern bridges rather plain and non-descript compared to the intricate beauty of the historic bascule bridges in Chicago. This is a trend seen in all bridges nationwide. Beauty and aesthetics are rarely given genuine attention in modern bridge construction. This is why the preservation of historic bridges is essential, since beyond the heritage value of the bridges, historic bridges are so much more beautiful. That said, in comparison to other bridges built in the 1980s, this bridge does have a better than average appearance as compared to other bridges such as the Randolph Street Bridge.
This bridge was dedicated to William P. Fahey a police officer shot in the line of duty in 1982.
Eric Bronsky contacted HistoricBridges.org with some interesting information about this bridge. He worked for the Chicago Department of Public Works from 1976-1989. As an architectural modelbuilder, he built several models for Chicago, including the display model of Columbus Drive Bridge. In the era before CAD, physical 3D models were frequently built as a design check. While building this model, he encountered a structural conflict and brought it to the attention of one of the designers. Sure enough, there was an error in the engineering drawings that required modifying the design. This model has not been displayed publicly since around 1990, and it is not known if it still exists. Eric kindly provided the below photo showing the model.
Above: View of the model of the Columbus Drive Bridge. Photo Credit: Eric Bronsky.
|
Main Plaque COLUMBUS DRIVE BRIDGE1982 JANE M BYRNE MAYOR JEROME R. BUTLER Commissioner of Public Works
HENRY ECALE Chief Bridge Engineer T. A. KACZKOWSKI Project Manager E. E. PENDLETON Resident Engineer |
AISC Award Plaque PRIZE BRIDGEMOBVABLE SPAN DESIGNED BY ENVIRODYNE ENGINEERS, INC and THE CITY OF CHICAGO Awarded in 1984 by AMERICAN INSTITUTE OF STEEL CONSTRUCTION, INC. |
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.
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. Despite this broad coverage, the book is presented in a compact format that is easy to take with you and carry around for reference on a visit to Chicago. The book includes dozens of full color photos. Only $9.95 U.S! ($11.95 Canadian). Order Now Direct From The Publisher! or order on Amazon.
Chicago River Bridges - By Patrick T. McBriarty, this is a great companion to Holth's book shown above. This much larger book offers an extremely in-depth exploration of Chicago's movable highway bridges, including many crossings that have not existed for many years. Order Now Direct From The Publisher! or order on Amazon.
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.
Coordinates (Latitude, Longitude):
Search For Additional Bridge Listings:
Bridgehunter.com: View listed bridges within 0.5 miles (0.8 kilometers) of this bridge.
Bridgehunter.com: View listed bridges within 10 miles (16 kilometers) of this bridge.
Additional Maps:
Google Streetview (If Available)
GeoHack (Additional Links and Coordinates)
Apple Maps (Via DuckDuckGo Search)
Apple Maps (Apple devices only)
Android: Open Location In Your Map or GPS App
Flickr Gallery (Find Nearby Photos)
Wikimedia Commons (Find Nearby Photos)
Directions Via Sygic For Android
Directions Via Sygic For iOS and Android Dolphin Browser
USGS National Map (United States Only)
Historical USGS Topo Maps (United States Only)
Historic Aerials (United States Only)
CalTopo Maps (United States Only)
© Copyright 2003-2024, HistoricBridges.org. All Rights Reserved. Disclaimer: HistoricBridges.org is a volunteer group of private citizens. HistoricBridges.org is NOT a government agency, does not represent or work with any governmental agencies, nor is it in any way associated with any government agency or any non-profit organization. While we strive for accuracy in our factual content, HistoricBridges.org offers no guarantee of accuracy. Information is provided "as is" without warranty of any kind, either expressed or implied. Information could include technical inaccuracies or errors of omission. Opinions and commentary are the opinions of the respective HistoricBridges.org member who made them and do not necessarily represent the views of anyone else, including any outside photographers whose images may appear on the page in which the commentary appears. HistoricBridges.org does not bear any responsibility for any consequences resulting from the use of this or any other HistoricBridges.org information. Owners and users of bridges have the responsibility of correctly following all applicable laws, rules, and regulations, regardless of any HistoricBridges.org information.
