CN I&M Canal Bridge (Channahon)

Located southwest of Channahon, this through girder bridge carries the former Elgin, Joliet & Eastern Railway over the Illinois & Michigan Canal. The first bridge at this location was constructed in 1888, and consisted of a lighter through plate girder span, set onto stone abutments. By the early 20th Century, the original bridge had become too light for traffic, and would be replaced by the current bridge in 1910. The bridge consists of a 82-foot through plate girder span, set onto stone abutments. At the time of construction, concrete additions were made to the abutments to accommodate the new span. The superstructure uses a standard design, with a ballast deck floor consisting of parallel I-beams placed between the girders. In addition, the girders use squared ends, typical for EJ&E bridges. The stone abutments were originally constructed by E.P. Reynolds & Company, which had the contract for constructing this line. American Bridge Company fabricated the superstructure, while an unknown contractor constructed concrete additions. This type of bridge was popular for railroad use, as it was durable, easy to construct and provided maximum clearance underneath. Since the 1910 construction, the bridge has had little if any significant alterations. 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.