N La Salle St Bridge, Chicago, IL (1)

Looking east at the N. La Salle St. bridge - Main Branch Chicago River.

Videos: Site Video / YouTube Video / Narrated YouTube Tour / La Salle St as Gateway

Quick Facts for North La Salle St. Bridge

Date Opened: December 20, 1928
Designers: Thomas G. Pihlfeldt, Donald Becker, Edward Bennett
Classification: Single Deck; Pony Trusses
Group Age Ranking: 10th Oldest
Clear Span: 220 feet (3rd longest – tied w/ North Franklin-Orleans; North Michigan; North Lake Shore)
Trunnion-to-Trunnion Span: 242 feet (7th longest)
Width: 86 feet (5th widest – tied w/ North Dearborn)
Leaf Weight: 2100 tons
Height above the Water: 19 feet
Average Daily Foot Traffic (1999): 5,311 (13th most)
Average Daily Vehicular Traffic (2006): 12,050 (9th most)
Annual Lifts (2006): 39
Last Rehabilitated: 1971
Cultural: Movies – Road to Perdition (2001), Batman Begins (2005), The Weatherman (2005).

Drawings:

Original Bridge Tender House Elevations (1927)

Original Bridge Plan and Elevation Drawing (1926)

Original Hand Rail Details (1926) and Current Photographs

The first river crossing at North La Salle Street was a tunnel which opened in 1871. This tunnel was initially used for cable cars, then electric street cars. This tunnel was in use until 1939, when it was blocked off by the construction of the Dearborn Street subway (the current Blue Line). The last vestige of this tunnel, the north portal, was removed in 1953.

The current bridge is the first built at this crossing. The design/planning process for this bridge began in 1914.

Looking West as the N. La Salle St. bridge opens.

This bridge makes quite a statement. The curving pony trusses, ornate hand railings, and four bridge tender houses present an impressive entrance into the Loop. The four bridge tender houses are more adorned and taller than all but those at the North Michigan Avenue bridge.

In 1999, this bridge was dedicated as the Marshall Suloway Bridge in recognition of a 50 year long career. Mr. Suloway, a Chicago native educated at IIT, started his civil engineering career in 1950 with the Illinois Highway Department. He joined the Chicago Department of Public Works in 1964, serving as Chief Engineer beginning in 1967. In 1974, Suloway was appointed as Acting Commissioner of Public Works. He was selected as the Man of the Year in 1976 by the American Public Works Association and served as Commissioner of Public Works until 1979.