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 Keystone Avenue Bridge (River Forest)

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UP Keystone Avenue Bridge (River Forest)

(Chicago & North Western Railway Bridge #14.8)

This trough floor steel stringer bridge carries the Union Pacific West line over Keystone 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 Keystone Avenue

Significance:

Local

Bloomingdale Trail - Milwaukee Avenue Bridge

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Bloomingdale Trail - Milwaukee Avenue Bridge

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

This unique tied arch bridge reused an older through plate girder bridge and now carries the Bloomingdale (606) Trail over Milwaukee Avenue

West Town, Chicago, Cook County, Illinois to Logan Square, Chicago, Cook County, Illinois

Owner: City of Chicago

Status: Open to Pedestrian Traffic

Built 1914 and reconstructed 2014

by

Wisconsin Bridge & Iron Company of North Milwaukee, Wisconsin

for

Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railway

Design:
66' tied arch supporting 2-23' and 2-10' through plate girder spans

Description:
Tied arch and through plate girder bridge over Milwaukee Avenue

Significance:

Moderate

UP Des Plaines River Bridge (Des Plaines)

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UP Des Plaines River Bridge (Des Plaines)

(Chicago & North Western Railway Bridge #22)

This large through plate girder bridge crosses the Des Plaines River in downtown Des Plaines

Des Plaines, Cook County, Illinois

Owner: Union Pacific Railroad

Status: In Use

Built 1910 and 1929

by

American Bridge Company of New York

for

Chicago & North Western Railway

Design:
2-84', 1-60' and 1-50' through plate girder

Description:
Through plate girder bridge over Des Plaines River

Significance:

Local

UP Weller Creek Bridge (East)

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UP Weller Creek Bridge (East)

(Chicago & North Western Railway Bridge #845)

This small deck plate girder bridge crosses Weller Creek near Rand Road in Des Plaines

Des Plaines, 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:
35' deck plate girder

Description:
Deck plate girder bridge over Weller Creek

Significance:

Local

UP Ogden Avenue Bridge (Near West Side)

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UP Ogden Avenue Bridge (Near West Side)

(Chicago & North Western Railway Bridge #S-1622)

This trough floor steel stringer bridge is the middle of three parallel bridges across Ogden Avenue (former US Route 66) at this location

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

Owner: Union Pacific Railroad

Status: In Use

Built 1909

by

American Bridge Company (Toledo Branch)

for

Chicago & North Western Railway

Design:
4-28', 2-14' trough floor steel stringer

Description:
Trough floor steel stringer bridge over Ogden 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

CTA Yellow Line - North Shore Channel Bridge

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CTA Yellow Line - North Shore Channel Bridge

This unique truss and girder bridge carries the CTA Yellow Line over the North Shore Channel, McCormick Boulevard and an abandoned C&NW line

Skokie, Cook County, Illinois

Owner: Chicago Transit Authority

Status: In Use

Built 1925

by

Hansell-Elcock Company of Chicago, Illinois and L.E. Meyers Company of Chicago, Illinois

for

Chicago, North Shore & Milwaukee Railroad and Northwestern Elevated Railroad

Design:
120' double intersection Warren deck truss, 105' Pratt pony truss and deck plate girder

Description:
Truss and girder bridge over North Shore Channel, McCormick Boulevard and abandoned C&NW Railway

Significance:

Regional

Bloomingdale Line Swing Bridge

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Bloomingdale Line Swing Bridge

(Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railway Bridge #Z-6)

This unique counterbalanced deck plate girder swing bridge crosses the North Branch Chicago River south of Cortland Street

Lincoln Park, Chicago, Cook County, Illinois to Logan Square, Chicago, Cook County, Illinois

Owner: City of Chicago

Status: Abandoned

Built 1899

by

American Bridge Works of Chicago, Illinois

for

Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railway

Design:
175' counterbalanced deck plate girder swing span and 70' deck plate girder

Description:
Counterbalanced deck plate girder swing bridge over North Branch Chicago River

Significance:

High

CN Wabash Avenue Bridge (Near South Side)

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CN Wabash Avenue Bridge (Near South Side)

(Illinois Central Railroad Bridge #W2.09)

This through plate girder bridge once carried the St. Charles Air Line over Wabash Avenue north of 16th Street

Near South Side, Chicago, Cook County, Illinois

Owner: Canadian National Railway

Status: Replaced by a new bridge

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:
61' through plate girder and 2-22' deck plate girders

Description:
Through plate girder bridge over Wabash Avenue

Significance:

Local

CTA Red Line - Lawrence Avenue Bridge

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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