- 1855: 3 miles completed from Ogden Avenue to the Chicago River by the Chicago, St. Charles and Mississippi Air Line Company
- 1855: CStC&MAL conveyed to the Galena and Chicago Union Railroad Company
- 1864: G&CU consolidated with the Chicago & North Western Railway
- 1864: 2 miles completed along Rockwell Street between Ogden Avenue and Kinzie Street by the Chicago & North Western Railway
- 1898: Track elevation and additional tracks completed jointly with the Pittsburgh, Cincinnati, Chicago & St. Louis Railroad between Kinzie Street and Taylor Street
- 1898: Track elevation and additional tracks completed jointly with the Pittsburgh, Cincinnati, Chicago & St. Louis Railroad between Kinzie Street and Taylor Street
- 1909-09: Track elevation and additional tracks completed jointly with the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad between Western Avenue Street and the Chicago River
- 1995: Chicago & North Western purchased by Union Pacific Railroad
- 1995-Present: Union Pacific jointly operates the Rockwell Subdivision from Kinzie Street to Canal Street with BNSF Railway
06/26/21
Located in the Near West Side neighborhood of Chicago, this bridge crosses West Madison Street at S. Rockwell Street.
Built in 1897 as the Chicago & North Western and the parallel Pittsburgh, Cincinnati, Chicago & St. Louis raised their tracks through the area, the bridge consists of a trio of through plate girder spans, set onto stone and steel substructures. While the bridge was originally built for seven tracks, only three tracks remain, with two active. It is unknown when the other tracks were removed.
In addition, the bridge consists of a ballasted deck. This deck has protected the bridge since construction, although it largely failed due to the sheet steel design. The decks of the active tracks were rebuilt at an unknown time in the 1990s or 2000s.
This type of bridge is typical for early grade separations in Chicago.
Overall, the bridge appears to be in fair to poor condition, with the unused track in rather poor condition.
The author has ranked this bridge as being locally significant, due to the common design.
The photo above is an overview.