CPKC Wrightwood Avenue Bridge (Logan Square)

Located between the Logan Square and Hermosa neighborhoods of Chicago, this steel stringer bridge carries the Metra Milwaukee District North line over Wrightwood Avenue. During the late 19th Century, railroad traffic within the City of Chicago posed a serious hazard to the general population. Starting in the mid-1890s, the City of Chicago passed a number of ordinances mandating the elevation of tracks within the city. As a general rule, these ordinances required the railroad line to be elevated, and underpasses to be constructed at street crossings. An ordinance was passed on February 21st, 1898, requiring the elevation of the Chicago Division of the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railway between Spaulding Avenue and Irving Park Road. Contracts for the work were let in 1898, and the project would be significantly completed in 1899. This section of track elevation required few retaining walls, and the elevation was mainly accomplished by lowering the streets. Initially, no underpass was constructed at Wrightwood Avenue, and the road dead ended on either side.

In 1938, the City of Chicago desired to construct a new underpass at Wrightwood Avenue, and contracts were let for construction. The new bridge was completed in 1939. The bridge consists of a 46-foot steel stringer span, set onto concrete piers and abutments. 8-foot slab spans carry the structure over the sidewalks, and these spans were constructed monolithically with the pier and abutment. While the bridge was initially constructed for four tracks, only three remain in use. The superstructure was fabricated by the Wisconsin Bridge & Iron Company, and the substructure was constructed by L. Balkin Builder. Typical of grade separations from this era, the bridge utilizes a number of decorative features, particularly on the concrete components. The main span of the bridge utilizes a ballast deck, which was required by the City of Chicago. This style of deck reduced maintenance costs for the railroad, and kept the public beneath safe. This style of bridge was constructed by railroads throughout the United States, particularly between 1920 and 1950. The design was easy to construct, and provided an aesthetic structure which was well suited for urban locations. Overall, the bridge appears to be in fair to good condition, with no significant deterioration noted. The author has ranked the bridge as being locally significant, due to the common design.