W Van Buren St Bridge, Chicago, IL (1)

Looking north at the rising W. Van Buren St. bridge - South Branch Chicago River.

Videos: Site Video / YouTube Video / Narrated YouTube Tour

Quick Facts for West Van Buren St. Bridge

Date Opened: December 5, 1956
Designers: Division of Bridges and Viaducts
Classification: Single Deck; Rail Height Trusses
Group Age Ranking: 3rd Youngest
Clear Span: 182 feet (9th longest)
Trunnion-to-Trunnion Span: 210 feet (11th longest)
Width: 69 feet (9th widest)
Leaf Weight: 1,000-2,000 tons
Height above the Water: 22 feet
Average Daily Foot Traffic (1999): 3,100 (16th most)
Average Daily Vehicular Traffic (2006): 6,700 (16th most)
Annual Lifts (2006): 40
Last Rehabilitated: NA
Cultural: Movie - The Dark Knight (2008)

Drawing:

General Plan and Elevation Drawing (1955)

The West Van Buren Street crossing has been in use for 159 years. The first floating bridge was installed in 1849. The swing bridge era began in the 1860s. The Great Fire destroyed the bridge in 1871 and it was rebuilt by the end of 1872.

The bascule bridge era began in 1894, when a Scherzer rolling lift bascule bridge was built here.
The current bridge replaced the Scherzer rolling lift bridge in 1956.

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

A street level view of a rising W. Van Buren St. bridge leaf.