Looking north towards the W. Jackson Blvd. bridge - South Branch Chicago River.
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Quick Facts for West Jackson Blvd Bridge
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Date Opened: January 29, 1916
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Classification: Single Deck; Deck Trusses
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Group Age Ranking: 2nd Oldest
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Clear Span: 174 feet (11th longest)
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Trunnion-to-Trunnion Span: 202 feet (12th longest)
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Width: 64 feet (10th widest – tied w/West Adams)
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Leaf Weight: 1,000-2,000 tons (est.)
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Height above the Water: 16 feet
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Average Daily Foot Traffic (1999): 22,280 (4th most)
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Average Daily Vehicular Traffic (2006): 8,900 (13th most)
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Annual Lifts (2006): 39
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Last Rebuild: 1993
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Cultural: None
Drawings:
Bridge Tender House Elevation Drawing (1914)
Bridge Plan and Elevation Drawing (1973)
General Equipment Drawing (1914)
The first bridge at West Jackson Boulevard was a swing bridge built in 1888.
The current bridge was opened on January 29, 1916. At the time this bridge was built, there was a major push for the city to remove center pier swing bridges. The city was strapped for cash and unable to build all of the bridges it needed to. In an effort to help out, the Sanitary District built this bridge. They also agreed to pay the extra $20,000 dollars to comply with the Chicago Plan Commission's architectural recommendations.
Sail boat passing through an open W. Jackson Blvd. Bridge (©2009 P. Armell).
The result was the first bridge that fully embodied the the ideals of the Chicago Plan. The use of deck trusses and the details of the bridge tender houses made this bridge the archetype of the Chicago type bridge.