CSX Ogden Avenue Bridge (Near West Side)

Located in the Near West Side neighborhood of Chicago, this steel stringer span carries the former B&OCT across Ogden Avenue (former US Route 66) west of Western Avenue. The bridge is located at what was once a busy railroad junction, and is the eastern of three bridges at this location. Built in 1909 as the B&OCT and adjacent Chicago & North Western Railway elevated their junction, the bridge consists of six trough floor steel stringer spans, including four spans at 28 feet and two at 14 feet. The bridge utilized concrete fascias to protect the stringers. The eastern face of the bridge was decorated with colorful tiles, and the eastern column of each pier encased in a decorative concrete. These decorative features were designed by Price & McLanahan, and the concrete fascia girders were constructed by James J. Croak Company. The bridge is set onto steel bent piers and concrete abutments, typical of 20th Century track elevations. The bridge was originally constructed for two tracks, and one remains in use. In addition, the bridge runs at a skew, and the east face of the bridge is curved.

While many underpasses along Chicago track elevations utilized utilitarian designs, decorative features were often included at major streets. The trough floor design became popular for track elevation structures in the early 20th Century. This design offered the advantages of a steel span, while providing a durable ballast deck. Ballast decks were required on track elevations in Chicago, as they offered greater protection to the public below. In addition, railroads preferred ballast decks, as they helped reduce overall maintenance costs. Since the initial construction, the bridge has seen relatively few structural alterations. However, the decorative face of the bridge was painted with an advertisement at an unknown date, ruining the decorative aesthetic of the bridge. Overall, the bridge appears to be in fair condition, with deterioration noted throughout the concrete. The author has ranked the bridge as being locally significant, due to the common design.