Railroad Bridges in Cook County, Illinois


Cook County is located in northeast Illinois, and is the most populous county in Illinois. The seat and largest city are both Chicago.

Random Bridges

UP Franklin Avenue Bridge (River Forest)

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UP Franklin Avenue Bridge (River Forest)

(Chicago & North Western Railway Bridge #14.6)

This trough floor steel stringer bridge carries the Union Pacific West line over Franklin Avenue in River Forest

River Forest, Cook County, Illinois

Owner: Union Pacific Railroad

Status: In Use

Built 1912

by

American Bridge Company of New York

for

Chicago & North Western Railway

Design:
2-27' and 2-10' trough floor steel stringer

Description:
Trough floor steel stringer bridge over Franklin Avenue

Significance:

Local

UP Prairie Creek Bridge (Des Plaines)

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UP Prairie Creek Bridge (Des Plaines)

(Chicago & North Western Railway Bridge #21)

This stone and concrete arch bridge crosses Prairie Creek on the east side of Des Plaines

Des Plaines, Cook County, Illinois

Owner: Union Pacific Railroad

Status: In Use

Built 1883 and 1929

by

Unknown and Bates & Rogers Construction Company of Chicago, Illinois

for

Chicago & North Western Railway

Design:
2-15' stone arch (north tracks) and 2-15' concrete arch (south track)

Description:
Stone and concrete arch bridge over Prairie Creek

Significance:

Local

Bloomingdale Trail - Winnebago Avenue Bridge

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Bloomingdale Trail - Winnebago Avenue Bridge

(Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railway Bridge #Z-8V)

This through plate girder bridge carries the Bloomingdale (606) Trail over Winnebago Avenue in the West Town neighborhood of Chicago

West Town, Chicago, Cook County, Illinois

Owner: City of Chicago

Status: Open to Pedestrian Traffic

Built 1914

by

Wisconsin Bridge & Iron Company of North Milwaukee, Wisconsin

for

Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railway

Design:
2-18' and 2-12' through plate girder

Description:
Through plate girder bridge over Winnebago Avenue

Significance:

Local

BNSF Des Plaines River Bridge (Lyons)

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BNSF Des Plaines River Bridge (Lyons)

(Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railway Bridge #11A)

This deck plate girder bridge carries the former Santa Fe over the Des Plaines River in Lyons

Lyons, Cook County, Illinois

Owner: BNSF Railway

Status: In Use

Built 1898

by

Unknown

for

Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railway

Design:
6-52' deck plate girder and 2-30' concrete slab

Description:
Deck plate girder bridge over Des Plaines River

Significance:

Local

UP Wrightwood Avenue Bridge (Lincoln Park)

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UP Wrightwood Avenue Bridge (Lincoln Park)

(Chicago & North Western Railway Bridge #1301)

This through plate girder bridge carries the Union Pacific North Line over Wrightwood Avenue in the Lincoln Park neighborhood of Chicago

Lincoln Park, Chicago, Cook County, Illinois

Owner: Union Pacific Railroad

Status: In Use, Scheduled For Replacement

Built 1899

by

Lassig Bridge & Iron Works of Chicago

for

Chicago & North Western Railway

Design:
40' through plate girder

Description:
Through plate girder bridge over Wrightwood Avenue

Significance:

Local

Wells Street Bridge

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Wells Street Bridge

This iconic through truss bascule bridge carries Wells Street and the CTA Brown and Purple Lines over the Chicago River

Loop, Chicago, Cook County, Illinois to Near North Side, Chicago, Cook County, Illinois

Owner: City of Chicago

Status: In Use

Built 1922

by

Fort Pitt Bridge Company of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; FitzSimons & Connell Dredge & Dock Company of Chicago, Illinois and Ketler-Elliott Erection Company of Chicago, Illinois

for

City of Chicago

Design:
268' Double deck Warren through truss bascule (double leaf fixed trunnion)

Description:
Double leaf Warren through truss bascule bridge over Chicago River

Significance:

Regional

CPKC Milwaukee Avenue Bridge (Irving Park)

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CPKC Milwaukee Avenue Bridge (Irving Park)

(Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railway Bridge #A-32)

This through plate girder bridge once carried the Metra Milwaukee District North Line over Milwaukee Avenue

Irving Park, Chicago, Cook County, Illinois

Owner: Canadian Pacific Kansas City Limited

Status: Replaced by a new bridge

Built 1899

by

Lassig Bridge & Iron Works of Chicago

for

Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railway

Design:
2-48' and 2-30' through plate girders

Description:
Through plate girder bridge over Milwaukee Avenue

Significance:

Local

CNW North Shore Channel Bridge

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CNW North Shore Channel Bridge

(Chicago & North Western Railway Bridge #543 1/4)

This unusual deck plate girder bridge carries an abandoned railroad over the North Shore Channel south of Oakton Street

Skokie, Cook County, Illinois

Owner: Private Owner

Status: In Use

Built 1909

by

George W. Jackson, Inc. of Chicago, Illinois and John T. Fanning & Company of Chicago, Illinois

for

Chicago & North Western Railway

Design:
60' deck plate girder

Description:
Deck plate girder bridge over North Shore Channel

Significance:

Moderate

Bloomingdale Trail - Fairfield Avenue Bridge

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Bloomingdale Trail - Fairfield Avenue Bridge

(Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railway Bridge #Z-10P)

This concrete slab bridge carries the Bloomingdale (606) Trail over Fairfield Avenue in the West Town neighborhood of Chicago

West Town, Chicago, Cook County, Illinois

Owner: City of Chicago

Status: Open to Pedestrian Traffic

Built 1914

by

Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railway

Design:
2-20' and 2-10' concrete slabs

Description:
Concrete slab bridge over Fairfield Avenue

Significance:

Local

CN Vollmer Road Bridge

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CN Vollmer Road Bridge

(Illinois Central Railroad Bridge #26.1)

This concrete encased beam bridge carries the Metra Electric District over Vollmer Road in Flossmoor

Flossmoor, Cook County, Illinois

Owner: Canadian National Railway

Status: In Use

Built 1924

by

Bates & Rogers Construction Company of Chicago, Illinois

for

Illinois Central Railroad

Design:
25' concrete encased beam and 2-9' concrete slab

Description:
Concrete encased beam bridge over Vollmer Road

Significance:

Local