Allen Richards' Blog: How Many 100-Year-Old Bridges Are There in Chicago?

Taking stock of my favorite topic – Chicago’s bridges – it is of particular note that this year four Chicago bridges will see their 100th anniversary. Amazingly all four are still in use serving the Drawbridge Capital of the World. That is, Chicago.

Jackson Boulevard Bridge opened on January 29, 1916
Chicago & North Western Railroad Bridge (near North Ashland Street) opened July 30, 1916
Webster Street Bridge opened August 3, 1916
Lake Street Bridge opened November 6, 1916

Looking forward to Spring in Chicago and increasingly warmer weather, it occurred to me as the bridge lift and sailing seasons get closer with the opening of the harbors on May 1st, these four are not the only one-hundred-plus bridges in Chicago. I did some research and found that by the end of 2016, Chicago will boast a total of 24 centenarian moveable bridges spanning Chicago’s waterways!

That is, of the 61 drawbridges within city limits — second only to Amsterdam — nearly half are one hundred or more years old! Is this surprising given the most recent new drawbridge was constructed more than 32 years ago at Randolph Street?

We are regularly reminded of our crumbling infrastructure, constructed mostly during the first half of the 20th century. One wonders when this bill will come due. When will we renew, revitalize, and improve our transportation systems to meet the needs of the 21st Century?

All hope is not lost, as many of Chicago’s bridges have recently undergone significant rehabilitation. For instance, the 94-year-old Wells Street Bridge received a $48 million overhaul in 2013. And in January, a 13-month project to improve the 79-year-old Adams Street Bridge and viaduct was begun.

For those of you who are not fanatics about our city’s fantastic bridges, an inventory of the staid and reliable centenarians is below, listed oldest to youngest. All of these bridges still carry street or rail traffic, except the CM&StP Bridge which transports pedestrians and bicycle traffic to Goose Island.

Name	Date Opened	Notes
Chicago, Milwaukee, & St. Paul Z-6 Bridge	1899	A block south of Cortland Street used to move scrap for recycling.
Chicago, Madison, & Northern Railroad Bridge	1899	Near Kedzie & 35th Street
Illinois Northern Railroad Bridge	1899	Near Central Park & 35th Street
Atchinson Topeka & Santa Fe Railroad Bridge	1899	Near 46th Street
Eight-Track Railroad Bridge	1901	Four alternating single-leaf Scherzers the structure was constructed in 1901 and converted from fixed to moveable in 1909-1910.
Chicago, Milwaukee, & St. Paul Z-2 Bridge	1902	Refurbished for bicycle & pedestrian use in 2009 connecting to Goose Island near the North Avenue.
Cortland Street Bridge	May 24, 1902	The world’s first Chicago-type, Chicago Landmarked in July 1997
West Division Street Bridge	June 4, 1904	The third Chicago-type ever built, connects the west side to Goose Island
Cermack Road Bridge	September 7, 1905	Built by the Sanitary District for the City. Only remaining Scherzer carrying street traffic in Chicago
Chicago & Alton Railway Bridge	1907	Only known John W. Page bascule in existance by this Chicagoan.
Chicago & North Western Railway Bridge	September 19, 1908	Nnear Kinzie Street and operated once per year to maintain right of way.
Kinzie Street Bridge	May 10, 1909	Only remaining single-leaf, first generation Chicago-type remaining.
Washington Street Bridge	May 26, 1913	Features bridge house with raised panel walls and hipped roof.
Grand Avenue Bridge	December 13, 1913
Pittsburgh, Ft. Wayne, & Chicago Railroad Bridge	1913	Near 97th Street
Chicago Avenue Bridge	October 5, 1914	First Chicago-type integrating the architecture of the approaches and the bridge houses.
92nd (Ewing) Street Bridge	1914
Chicago & Illinois Western Railway Bridge	1914	Only existing Theodore Rall bridge in Chicago by this Chicagoan.
Pennsylvania Railroad Bridge	1915	Near Chinatown and 18th Street, operates on demand due to low river clearance.
Lake Shore & Michigan Southern Railway Bridge	1915	Permanently raised near 97th Street
Jackson Boulevard Bridge	January 29, 1916	Joseph Strauss received one of his 14 bridge patents for this bascule design.
Chicago & North Western Railway Bridge	July 30, 1916	Joseph Strauss received one of his 14 bridge patents for this bascule design.
Webster Avenue Bridge	August 3, 1916
Lake Street Bridge	November 6, 1916	First Double-Deck, Double-Leaf in Chicago