This bridge was apparently built as a fixed bridge because there was enough room to build an approach to provide the higher clearance a fixed bridge would require.
This bridge has an unusual truss configuration which is essentially a subdivided polygonal Warren through truss. In other words, it is a polygonal Warren truss bridge which has been broken into smaller and more numerous panels in the way a Pennsylvania truss subdivides a Parker truss. This is the only known example of this unusual design in Chicago.
Thanks to Tom Winkle for providing boat transportation to assist in the photo-documentation of this historic bridge.
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Main Plaque E. 130TH ST. BRIDGE----- 1949 ----- CITY OF CHICAGO MARTIN H. KENNELLY Mayor OSCAR E. HEWITT Commissioner of Public Works JOHN P. WILSON Deputy Comm. of Public Works W. W. DE BERARD City Engineer STEPHEN J. MICHUDA City Bridge & Viaduct Engineer
CARL O. JOHNSON Asst. Bridge Engineer (Constr.) |
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.
Bridge Photo-Documentation Original / Full Size Photos |
A collection of overview and detail photos. This gallery offers photos in the highest available resolution and file size in a touch-friendly popup viewer. Alternatively, Browse Without Using Viewer |
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Bridge Photo-Documentation Mobile Optimized Photos |
A collection of overview and detail photos. This gallery features data-friendly, fast-loading photos in a touch-friendly popup viewer. Alternatively, Browse Without Using Viewer |
Passing Under Bridge 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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Bumpercam: Westbound Crossing Full Motion Video |
Note: The downloadable high quality version of this video (available on the video page) is well worth the download since it offers excellent 1080 HD detail and is vastly more impressive than the compressed streaming video. Streaming video of the bridge. Also includes a higher quality downloadable video for greater clarity or offline viewing. |
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