Looking west at the N. Dearborn St. bridge - Main Branch Chicago River.
Videos: Site Video / YouTube Video / Narrated Tour on YouTube /
Quick Facts for North Dearborn St. Bridge
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Date Opened: October 23, 1963
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Designers: Division of Bridges and Viaducts
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Classification: Single Deck; Rail Height Trusses
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Group Age Ranking: 3rd Youngest
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Clear Span: 200 feet (7th longest)
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Trunnion-to-Trunnion Span: 235 feet (8th longest)
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Width: 86 feet (5th widest – tied w/ North La Salle)
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Leaf Weight: 2,100 tons
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Height above the Water: 21 feet
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Average Daily Foot Traffic (1999): 5,205 (14th most)
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Average Daily Vehicular Traffic (2006): 15,200 (6th most)
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Annual Lifts (2006): 43
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Last Rehabilitated: NA
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Cultural: Movies - Message in a Bottle (1999), The Dark Knight (2008)
Drawings:
Bridge Tender House Elevation Drawing (1958)
Bridge Plan and Elevation Drawing (1958)
Looking north along the N. Dearborn St. bridge.
There was no crossing at North Dearborn Street until 1888, when the existing Wells Street swing bridge was floated up river and installed at Dearborn Street. In 1907, a Scherzer rolling lift bascule bridge replaced the old swing bridge. This 1907 bridge was replaced by the current bridge.
The single bridge tender house is on the SE corner of the bridge. This bridge was an AISC award winner.
Sailboats waiting for the N. Dearborn St. bridge to open.