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| Name | Joliet Junction Trail Bridge |
| Built By | Rockdale, Joliet & Lockport Terminal Railway |
| Currently Owned By | Forest Preserve District of Will County |
| Superstructure Contractor | Unknown |
| Substructure Contractor | Keltie Stone Company of Joliet, Illinois |
| Length | 130 Feet Total, 68 Foot Main Span |
| Width | 1 Track |
| Height Above Ground | 25 Feet (Estimated) |
| Superstructure Design | Through Plate Girder |
| Substructure Design | Concrete and Steel Bent |
| Date Built | 1905 |
| Traffic Count | 0 Trains/Day (Bridge is Open to Pedestrian Traffic) |
| Current Status | Open to Pedestrian Traffic |
| Significance | Local Significance |
| Documentation Date | 12/16/2018 |
In 1904, the Rockdale, Joliet & Lockport Terminal Railway (RJ<) began construction on a new 6-mile railroad, extending from the existing Elgin, Joliet & Eastern Railway (EJ&E) mainline at Crest Hill, Illinois to Rockdale, Illinois. The route was largely completed by 1906. The line was mainly constructed to serve industries along the Illinois River in the Rockdale area. The line quickly became part of the EJ&E. The EJ&E formed an outer belt around Chicago, connecting to all
railroads entering the city. This line served as a branch line for the railroad. In addition, the EJ&E served the
numerous steel mills located along Lake Michigan. During the late
1890s, steel companies were utilizing vertical integration to streamline
operations. The railroad would become a subsidiary of Illinois Steel
in 1898, later becoming part of Federal Steel Company, and eventually
United States Steel Corporation in 1901. Under US Steel, the EJ&E
would retain its name. During the 20th Century, the branch slowly diminished in importance as industries closed. In 1988, US Steel sold the EJ&E to Transtar, a holding company. The EJ&E would abandon this line in 1991, after a fire damaged a bridge. In 1994, the Joliet Junction Railroad was formed to operate the route. This railroad operated the line until 1999, when it was abandoned. It was purchased by Will County, and most of the line now serves as the Joliet Junction Trail.
Located west of Larkin Avenue in Rockdale, this through plate girder bridge carries the former Elgin, Joliet & Eastern Railway Rockdale Branch over the former Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific Railway mainline (now CSX). The bridge was built in 1904-1905 as the branch line was constructed. It consists of a 68-foot through plate girder span, approached by a 17-foot span on the north and a 45-foot span on the south. The bridge is set onto concrete substructures, and the spans are supported by steel bents. In addition, the bridge runs at a heavy skew, giving the approach spans an unusual configuration. The superstructure uses a standard design, with a ballast deck created with parallel I-beams placed between the girders. These girders also use square ends, typical for spans from this era. An unknown contractor fabricated the superstructure, and the concrete was constructed by the Keltie Stone Company. This type of bridge was commonly used by railroads, as it was durable and easy to construct. Since the initial construction, the only major change to the structure has been the conversion to trail use, and it now serves as part of the Joliet Junction Trail. Overall, the bridge appears to be in fair to good condition, with no significant deterioration noted. The author has ranked this bridge as being locally significant, due to the common design.
Citations
| Build date and builder (substructure) | Railway Age; December 2, 1904 |
| Railroad History Citation | ICC Valuation Information, Compiled by Richard S. Steele |