Lake Shore and Michigan Southern Railway, Bridge No. 6 explained

Bridge Name:Lake Shore and Michigan Southern Railway, Bridge No. 6
Carries:Two tracks per span, four total
Crosses:Calumet River
Locale:Chicago, Illinois
Maint:Norfolk Southern Railway
Designer:Waddell & Harrington
Design:Vertical-lift bridge
Material:Steel
Spans:Two parallel
Mainspan:209.75feet
Width:31feet each span
Builder:Dravo Contracting Company
Begin:1912
Complete:1915
Coordinates:41.7197°N -87.5428°W

Lake Shore and Michigan Southern Railway, Bridge No. 6 is a steel vertical-lift bridge consisting of two parallel spans, carrying two tracks each, across the Calumet River in Chicago, Illinois, United States. The structure is currently owned by Norfolk Southern Railway but disused and kept in a raised position.

The current structure replaces an earlier swing bridge on the same site, built for the Lake Shore and Michigan Southern Railway. When the United States Army Corps of Engineers began calling for its replacement in 1909, both single- and double-leaf bascule bridge options were considered, as well as vertical-lift options. Construction began on foundations for a single, four-track vertical-lift span before changing to the two parallel two-track spans that were completed in 1915.

The bridge was designated as a Chicago Landmark on December 12, 2007.[1]

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Lake Shore & Michigan Southern Railway Bridges . Chicago Department of Housing and Economic Development, Historic Preservation Division . 2013-01-14.