Chicago Bridges

Welcome to Chicago Loop Bridges - the website devoted to Chicago's downtown movable bridges.

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Also on facebook and twitter .

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N. Lake Shore Dr, Main Stem Chicago River - October 19, 1937 - 2012 marks 75 years of service

W. Adams St, South Branch Chicago River - August 26, 1927 - 2012 marks 85 years of service

N. Columbus Dr, Main Stem Chicago River - October 31, 1982 - 2012 marks 30 years of service

W. Madison St, South Branch Chicago River - November 29, 1922 - 2012 marks 90 years of service

N. Wells St, Main Stem Chicago River - February 11, 1922 - 2012 marks 90 years of service

N. Franklin St, Main Stem Chicago River - October 23, 1920

W. Jackson Blvd, South Branch Chicago River - January 29, 1916

N. Clark St, Main Stem Chicago River - July 10, 1929

Du Sable Bridge at N. Michigan Ave, Main Stem Chicago River - May 14, 1920

N. LaSalle St, Main Stem Chicago River - December 20, 1928

N. Dearborn St, Main Stem Chicago River - October 23, 1963

W. Washington Blvd, South Branch Chicago River - May 26, 1913

N. State St, Main Stem Chicago River - May 28, 1949

W. Lake St, South Branch Chicago River - November 6, 1916

N. Wabash Ave, Main Stem Chicago River - December 20, 1930

W. Monroe St, South Branch Chicago River - February 22, 1919

W. Van Buren St, South Branch Chicago River - December 5, 1956

W. Randolph St, South Branch Chicago River - December 21, 1984

The slide show above features the 18 bridges on the Main Stem and South Branch of the Chicago River in Chicago's downtown area

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1/22 Update - Bridge Trivia Subject - Double-decked Downtown Bascules - Details

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2012 CLB wall calendars still available on-line for $8.50 each.

(at SweetHomeSouvenirs or PayPal option)

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Updates on Chicago's "little plan" to use the historic, iconic bridgehouses to generate advertising revenue.

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Read the account of an 1833 accident at the W. Polk St bridge.

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Touring/speaking options provided Chicago Loop Bridges. Details

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Take a virtual ride on the Water taxi

Via YouTube

(YouTube link)

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See the complete picture of a lift

The sounds from the gear room at the McCormick Bridgehouse and Chicago River Museum.

(YouTube Link)

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Downtown Chicago provides a unique opportunity for anyone interested in bridges. In a mere two miles, there are eighteen movable bridges. While the most celebrated bridge is at N. Michigan Avenue, there are seventeen other examples of beautiful Chicago bridges. An easy stroll along Wacker Drive provides an opportunity to see the evolution in design of the Chicago Type, Fixed Trunnion, Double Leaf, Bascule Bridge.

This website provides some background information and will take you on a tour of these Chicago bridges. The tour includes bridges from North Lake Shore Drive at the mouth of the Chicago River to West Van Buren Street on the South Branch of the Chicago River.

Background information is located in the menu section entitled "Pages" found on each page of this site.

Photographs, facts, general information, some engineering drawings, "local" QuickTime videos and links to YouTube videos and narrated tours are provided for the individual bridges. These can be accessed directly from the "Bridges" menu or via the link entitled "Virtual Tour Map" in the menu or by clicking on the small map displayed on every page.

My book entitled, "Two Miles - Eighteen Bridges A walk along the Chicago River," is available for download. In addition, I have written two short articles. One about the engineers involved in the development of the Chicago Type Bridge and the other an historical look at bridge tending. These documents are on Scribd.com. Scribd now provides a send-to-device feature that supports a number of digital readers including iPad, Kindle, Nook, iPhone and Android. See the Scribd support page for details. If you are having difficulty with the Scribd site or have questions about the book, contact me via e-mail (click here). I will provide a hard copy of my book on request (details here).

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