View Information About HSR Ratings
This bridge is a concrete rigid-frame bridge. Among concrete rigid-frame bridges it is somewhat unusual since it has a ribbed design that shows distinctive concrete beams making it look like a curved t-beam bridge. Retaining original railings, this bridge stands out technologically as a relatively large span and unaltered concrete rigid frame. The only alteration appears to have been the in-kind replacement of the concrete deck. The bridge and associated roadway is part of a trumpet type interchange with Pulaski Road.
This bridge was highlighted as eligible for listing in the National Register of Historic Places by the Illinois Historic Bridge Inventory (HBI). The Illinois HBI is one of the least useful inventories in the country because despite repeated attempts to secure data from the state department of transportation all that appears to exist for Illinois is a list of which bridges are considered eligible. No justification and explanation for the eligibility determinations appears to be available. This means that the history of the bridge and why it is considered eligible is not officially known. However it is likely that the bridge is eligible under Criterion A for association with important events, that being the World War II related effort of constructing the massive Dodge Chicago Plant which was an enormous factory that was constructed to facilitate production of bombers for the war effort. Chicago's efforts to build such a plant are similar to efforts in the Detroit, Michigan area to construct the Willow Run bomber plant. Like the Willow Run plant, the Dodge Chicago plant was established in a lightly populated area where the space was available for the plant. Like the interchanges and expressways constructed at Michigan's Willow Run, the construction of the overpass and associated interchange with Pulaski Road undoubtedly was created to help efficiently deal with the massive amount of traffic that would have been generated from work shift changes and other activity at the plant.
Portions of the Dodge Chicago Plant remain today as the Ford City Mall and some of the other buildings also remain in the area.
The bridge and interchange may also be eligible for listing in the National Register of Historic Places under Criterion C as an early and complete example of an interchange system.
The divided highway that the bridge carries starts at Pulaski Road and continues west. Today, it ends and makes a 90 degree turn onto Kostner Avenue. However the divided highway once continued west from this point, connecting with Cicero Avenue. There appears to have been an additional interchange at Cicero Avenue that does not remain today, with the exception of two of the ramps which today appear to serve as an entrance into the Ford City Mall.
This historic bridge has been demolished. This map is shown for reference purposes only.
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.
