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 Sunnyside Avenue Bridge (Lincoln Square)

Image name

UP Sunnyside Avenue Bridge (Lincoln Square)

(Chicago & North Western Railway Bridge #1304 3/4)

This through plate girder bridge once carried the Union Pacific North Line over Sunnyside Avenue in the Lincoln Square neighborhood of Chicago

Lincoln Square, Chicago, Cook County, Illinois

Owner: Union Pacific Railroad

Status: Replaced by a new bridge

Built 1897

by

Lassig Bridge & Iron Works of Chicago

for

Chicago & North Western Railway

Design:
1-43' and 2-20' through plate girders

Description:
Through plate girder bridge over Sunnyside Avenue

Significance:

Local

Bloomingdale Trail - Campbell Avenue Bridge

Image name

Bloomingdale Trail - Campbell Avenue Bridge

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

This concrete slab bridge carries the Bloomingdale (606) Trail over Campbell 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 Campbell Avenue

Significance:

Local

NS 61st Street Bridge (Englewood)

Image name

NS 61st Street Bridge (Englewood)

(Pennsylvania Railroad Bridge #516.09)

This through plate girder bridge carries the Norfolk Southern Chicago Line over 61st Street in the Englewood neighborhood of Chicago

Englewood, Chicago, Cook County, Illinois

Owner: Norfolk Southern Railway

Status: In Use

Built 1898

by

American Bridge Works of Chicago, Illinois and Unknown

for

Pittsburgh, Fort Wayne & Chicago Railway

Design:
78' through plate girder

Description:
Through plate girder bridge over 61st Street

Significance:

Local

Kinzie Street Railroad Bridge

Image name

Kinzie Street Railroad Bridge

(Chicago & North Western Railway Bridge #N-1511)

This iconic Strauss trunnion bascule bridge carries the original Chicago & North Western Railway line over the North Branch of the Chicago River

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

Owner: Union Pacific Railroad

Status: Closed to Traffic

Built 1908

by

Toledo-Massillon Bridge Company of Toledo, Ohio and Great Lakes Dredge & Dock Company of Chicago, Illinois

for

Chicago & North Western Railway

Design:
170' Warren through truss Strauss trunnion bascule and 27' deck plate girder

Description:
Strauss trunnion bascule bridge over North Branch Chicago River

Significance:

High

Abandoned Winchester Avenue Bridge (New City)

Image name

Abandoned Winchester Avenue Bridge (New City)

(Grand Trunk Western Railroad Bridge #6.54)

This through plate girder bridge across Winchester Avenue is one of several similar structures along the former Grand Trunk Western 49th Street Line

New City, Chicago, Cook County, Illinois

Owner: Canadian National Railway

Status: Abandoned

Built 1907

by

American Bridge Company of New York

for

Grand Trunk Western Railroad

Design:
45' through plate girder

Description:
Through plate girder bridge over Winchester Avenue

Significance:

Local

UP Thatcher Avenue Bridge (River Forest)

Image name

UP Thatcher Avenue Bridge (River Forest)

(Chicago & North Western Railway Bridge #15.0)

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

River Forest, Cook County, Illinois

Owner: Union Pacific Railroad

Status: In Use

Built 1914

by

Unknown

for

Chicago & North Western Railway

Design:
2-24' and 2-10' trough floor steel stringer

Description:
Trough floor steel stringer bridge over Thatcher Avenue

Significance:

Local

Wells Street Bridge

Image name

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

Abandoned Paulina Street Bridge (New City)

Image name

Abandoned Paulina Street Bridge (New City)

(Grand Trunk Western Railroad Bridge #6.23)

This through plate girder bridge across Paulina Street is one of several similar structures along the former Grand Trunk Western 49th Street Line

New City, Chicago, Cook County, Illinois

Owner: Canadian National Railway

Status: Abandoned

Built 1907

by

American Bridge Company of New York

for

Grand Trunk Western Railroad

Design:
1-44' and 2-11' through plate girder

Description:
Through plate girder bridge over Paulina Street

Significance:

Local

CN Clark Street Bridge (Near South Side)

Image name

CN Clark Street Bridge (Near South Side)

(Illinois Central Railroad Bridge #W2.33)

This unusual through plate girder bridge carries the former St. Charles Air Line over Clark Street

Near South Side, Chicago, Cook County, Illinois

Owner: Canadian National Railway

Status: In Use

Built 1899

by

Detroit Bridge & Iron Works of Detroit, Michigan and J.S. Patterson Construction Company of Chicago, Illinois

for

St. Charles Air Line Railroad

Design:
1-62' and 1-28' through plate girder

Description:
Through plate girder bridge over Clark Street

Significance:

Local

CTA Red Line - Lawrence Avenue Bridge

Image name

CTA Red Line - Lawrence Avenue Bridge

(Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railway Bridge #J-62)

This through plate girder bridge once carried the CTA Red and Purple Lines over Lawrence Avenue

Uptown, Chicago, Cook County, Illinois

Owner: Chicago Transit Authority

Status: Replaced by a new bridge

Built 1922

by

Unknown

for

Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railway and Northwestern Elevated Railroad

Design:
70' through plate girder and deck plate girder viaduct

Description:
Through plate girder bridge over Lawrence Avenue

Significance:

Local