Railroad Bridges in Near West Side, Chicago, Illinois


Near West Side is a community area in Chicago, located immediately west of The Loop. Several railroads, including the Chicago & North Western Railway (C&NW) and the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad (CB&Q) operated extensive facilities in the area. In addition, the "L", an elevated rapid transit line, operated lines through the area. Union Pacific Railroad and BNSF Railway own most of the remaining railroad lines, while the CTA "L" continues to operate the Green and Pink lines in the area.

Random Bridges

Lake Street Bridge

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Lake Street Bridge

This iconic through truss bascule bridge carries Lake Street and the CTA Pink and Green Lines over the South Branch Chicago River

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

Owner: City of Chicago

Status: In Use

Built 1916

by

American Bridge Company of New York; FitzSimons & Connell Dredge & Dock Company of Chicago, Illinois and Ketler-Elliott Erection Company of Chicago, Illinois

for

City of Chicago

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

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

Significance:

Regional

UP Milwaukee Avenue Bridge (Near West Side)

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UP Milwaukee Avenue Bridge (Near West Side)

(Chicago & North Western Railway Bridge #1.6)

This trough floor steel stringer bridge carries the Union Pacific North, Northwest and West Lines over Milwaukee Avenue

Near West Side, Chicago, Cook County, Illinois

Owner: Union Pacific Railroad

Status: In Use

Built 1910

by

American Bridge Company of New York and Bates & Rogers Construction Company of Chicago, Illinois

for

Chicago & North Western Railway

Design:
2-23' and 2-14' trough floor steel stringer

Description:
Trough floor steel stringer bridge over Milwaukee Avenue

Significance:

Local

UP Harrison Street Bridge (Near West Side)

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UP Harrison Street Bridge (Near West Side)

(Chicago & North Western Railway Bridge #S-1615)

This through plate girder bridge carries the Union Pacific Rockwell Subdivision over Harrison Street

Near West Side, Chicago, Cook County, Illinois

Owner: Union Pacific Railroad

Status: In Use

Built 1897

by

Lassig Bridge & Iron Works of Chicago

for

Chicago & North Western Railway and Pittsburgh, Cincinnati, Chicago & St. Louis Railroad

Design:
70' through plate girder

Description:
Through plate girder bridge over Harrison Street

Significance:

Local

UP Kinzie Street Bridge

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UP Kinzie Street Bridge

(Chicago & North Western Railway Bridge #2.2)

This large trough floor steel stringer viaduct carries the Union Pacific North, Northwest and West Lines over Kinzie Street and Clinton Street

Near West Side, Chicago, Cook County, Illinois

Owner: Union Pacific Railroad

Status: In Use

Built 1910

by

American Bridge Company of New York and Bates & Rogers Construction Company of Chicago, Illinois

for

Chicago & North Western Railway

Design:
8 span trough floor steel stringer

Description:
Trough floor steel stringer bridge over Kinzie Street and Clinton Street

Significance:

Local

UP Fulton Street Bridge (Near West Side)

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UP Fulton Street Bridge (Near West Side)

(Chicago & North Western Railway Bridge #1.8)

This trough floor steel stringer bridge carries the Union Pacific North, Northwest and West Lines over Fulton Street at Milwaukee Avenue

Near West Side, Chicago, Cook County, Illinois

Owner: Union Pacific Railroad

Status: In Use

Built 1910

by

American Bridge Company of New York and Bates & Rogers Construction Company of Chicago, Illinois

for

Chicago & North Western Railway

Design:
2-26' and 2-17' trough floor steel stringer

Description:
Trough floor steel stringer bridge over Fulton Street

Significance:

Local

Kinzie Street Railroad Bridge

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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

Polly L Bridge

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Polly L Bridge

(Metropolitain West Side Elevated Truss Bridge)

This abandoned Pennsylvania through truss span was left standing after much of the of the Logan Square Branch was abandoned.

Near West Side, Chicago, Cook County, Illinois

Owner: Union Pacific Railroad

Status: Abandoned, reused as signal bridge

Built 1895

by

Mt. Vernon Bridge Company of Mt. Vernon, Ohio

for

Metropolitan West Side Elevated

Design:
258' Parker through truss

Description:
Parker through truss bridge over Union Pacific Railroad

Significance:

High

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 Madison Street Bridge (Near West Side)

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UP Madison Street Bridge (Near West Side)

(Chicago & North Western Railway Bridge #S-1607)

This through plate girder bridge carries the Union Pacific Rockwell Subdivision over Madison Street

Near West Side, Chicago, Cook County, Illinois

Owner: Union Pacific Railroad

Status: In Use

Built 1897

by

Lassig Bridge & Iron Works of Chicago

for

Chicago & North Western Railway and Pittsburgh, Cincinnati, Chicago & St. Louis Railroad

Design:
1-48' and 2-15' through plate girders

Description:
Through plate girder bridge over Madison Street

Significance:

Local

UP Eisenhower Expressway Bridge

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UP Eisenhower Expressway Bridge

(Chicago & North Western Railway Bridge #S-1614)

This through girder and steel stringer bridge crosses the Eisenhower Expressway, Congress Parkway and Van Buren Street

Near West Side, Chicago, Cook County, Illinois

Owner: Union Pacific Railroad

Status: In Use

Built 1897 and 1952

by

Lassig Bridge & Iron Works of Chicago and Unknown

for

Chicago & North Western Railway and Pittsburgh, Cincinnati, Chicago & St. Louis Railroad

Design:
2-70' through plate girders and steel stringer

Description:
Through plate girder and steel stringer bridge over Eisenhower Expressway, Congress Parkway and Van Buren Street

Significance:

Local