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
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:
UP Milwaukee Avenue Bridge (Near West Side)
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:
UP Harrison Street Bridge (Near West Side)
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:
UP Kinzie Street Bridge
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:
UP Fulton Street Bridge (Near West Side)
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:
Kinzie Street Railroad Bridge
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:
Polly L Bridge
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:
UP Ogden Avenue Bridge (Near West Side)
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:
UP Madison Street Bridge (Near West Side)
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:
UP Eisenhower Expressway Bridge
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: