UP Bloom Street Bridge (Highwood)

Highwood, Lake County, Illinois

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Overview
North abutment
South abutment
Looking north
Plaque

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Default Pic
Overview
North abutment
South abutment
Looking north
Plaque
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Caption:
Name UP Bloom Street Bridge (Highwood)
Chicago & North Western Railway Bridge #1352
Built By Chicago & North Western Railway
Currently Owned By Union Pacific Railroad
Superstructure Contractor American Bridge Company of New York
Substructure Contractor Unknown
Length 48 Feet Total
Width 2 Tracks
Height Above Ground 12 Feet 6 Inches
Superstructure Design Through Plate Girder
Substructure Design Stone Masonry and Concrete
Date Built 1929
Traffic Count 75 Trains/Day (Estimated)
Current Status In Use
Chicago & North Western Railway Bridge Number 1352
Union Pacific Railroad Bridge Number 24.22
Significance Local Significance
Documentation Date 7/8/2018

In the early 1850s, several railroad companies began constructing railroad lines radiating from Chicago.  In 1855, the Chicago & Milwaukee Railroad (C&M) constructed a 45-mile railroad line, extending north from an existing railroad line at Ashland Avenue and Armitage Avenue in Chicago to the Wisconsin State Line near Kenosha.  At the same time, the Milwaukee & Chicago Railroad (M&C) constructed an additional 40 miles north to Milwaukee.  The two railroads would be consolidated into a new railroad known as the Chicago & Milwaukee Railroad (C&M) soon after completion, and would come under control of the Chicago & North Western Railway (C&NW) in 1866.  The C&M was leased to the Chicago, Milwaukee and North Western Railway (CM&NW) in 1883.  The C&NW acquired control of the CM&NW soon after.   The C&NW had constructed and acquired a large network of railroad lines through the Midwest.  This line formed a portion of the principal north mainline of the C&NW, eventually extending to northern Wisconsin and the Upper Peninsula of Michigan.  Due to increasing traffic along this line, a second track would be constructed between 1890 and 1892.

In the late 19th Century, railroad traffic had become a significant safety hazard for the City of Chicago.  A solution was devised to elevate the railroad tracks throughout the city, placing the railroads upon embankments and constructing subways at each street.  In 1898, the C&NW completed track elevation and a third track from Ashland Avenue to Balmoral Avenue; followed by Balmoral Avenue into Evanston between 1907 and 1910.  The C&NW would become a prominent railroad in the Midwest, eventually building a system over 11,000 miles long.  Throughout the 20th Century, this line would continue to be an integral part of the C&NW system.  The second track would be removed north of Kenosha after 1959.  In 1995, the C&NW would be purchased by the Union Pacific Railroad.  Union Pacific continues to operate the route as the Kenosha Subdivision.  Metra operates a commuter service, the Union Pacific-North Line over the Chicago to Kenosha section.

Located on the north side of Highland Park, this through plate girder bridge carries the Union Pacific North line over Vine Avenue. The first bridge at this location was constructed in 1890, and consisted of a double track 27-foot deck plate girder span, set onto stone substructures. To facilitate drainage, an 8-foot stone arch culvert was constructed behind the south abutment. In 1929, the current bridge would be constructed to allow for a wider roadway underneath. The bridge consists of a 48-foot through plate girder span, set onto a stone south abutment and concrete north abutment. When the current bridge was constructed, the south abutment and culvert were retained. The span was fabricated by the American Bridge Company, and the concrete abutment constructed by an unknown contractor. The through girder utilizes a traditionally composed floor, and the girders are relatively shallow, giving the bridge an appearance of a steel stringer. This type of bridge was popular with railroads, as it was durable and easy to construct. Overall, the bridge appears to be in fair condition, with some deterioration noted throughout the superstructure. The author has ranked this bridge as being locally significant, due to the common design.

Citations

Builder and build date American Bridge Company plaque
Railroad History Citation ICC Valuation Information, Compiled by Richard S. Steele