W Randolph St Bridge, Chicago, IL (1)

Sailing north through an open W. Randolph St. bridge - South Branch Chicago River.

Videos: Site Video / YouTube Video / Narrated YouTube Tour

Quick Facts for West Randolph St. Bridge

Date Opened: December 21, 1984
Designers: Division of Bridges and Viaducts
Classification: Single Deck; Box Girders
Group Age Ranking: Youngest of the Group
Clear Span: 164 feet (shortest in the group)
Trunnion-to-Trunnion Span: 213 feet (10th longest)
Width: 80 feet (6th widest)
Leaf Weight: 1,400 tons
Height above the Water: 22 feet
Average Daily Foot Traffic (1999): 10,356 (7th most)
Average Daily Vehicular Traffic (2006): 6,300 (17th most)
Annual Lifts (2006): 45
Last Rehabilitated: NA
Cultural: None

Drawing:

General Plan and Elevation (1984)

The West Randolph Street crossing has a 161 year history starting with a floating bridge built in 1847. In 1856, a new swing bridge was built. The swing bridge era ended in 1903 when a Scherzer rolling lift bascule bridge was built. The 1903 bridge was replaced in 1984.

The current bridge opened on December 21, 1984. It is the newest in the group and is similar in design to the bridge built at North Columbus Avenue. The bridge structure consists of two box girders. These girders extend above the bridge deck to rail-height.

The single bridge tender house is on the SE corner of the bridge.

Sailboats pass under a half-open Randolph St. bridge.

Back to the top of this page