- 1836: Galena and Chicago Union Railroad charted between Chicago and Galena, Illinois
- 1848: 10 miles completed from Chicago to Oak Park, Illinois by the Galena and Chicago Union Railroad
- 1849: 20 miles completed from Oak Park to West Chicago, Illinois by the Galena and Chicago Union Railroad
- 1854: 68 miles completed from West Chicago to Dixon, Illinois by the Galena and Chicago Union Railroad
- 1855: 39 miles completed from Dixon to East Clinton, Illinois by the Galena and Chicago Union Railroad
- 1855: 10 miles double tracked from Chicago to Oak Park
- 1856: 20 miles double tracked from Oak Park to West Chicago
- 1864: G&CU consolidated with the Chicago & North Western Railway
- 1884: 15 miles double tracked from West Chicago to Elburn
- 1889: Remainder of line double tracked from Elburn to East Clinton
- 1893-95: Track elevated from Sacramento Boulevard to 40th Street (Pulaski Road)
- 1905: Track elevated from Ashland Avenue to Sacramento Boulevard
- 1908-13: Track elevated from Pulaski Road to Thatcher Avenue River Forest and additional tracks built
- 1909-11: Track realigned, elevated and expanded for new Chicago Terminal
- 1910: 13 mile bypass of Dixon completed by the Lee County Railway Company
- 1910: C&NW purchases the Lee County Railway Company
- 1995: Chicago & North Western purchased by Union Pacific Railroad
- 1995-Present: Union Pacific operates the Geneva Subdivision from Chicago to East Clinton
- 2006-Present: Metra operates the Union Pacific West Line between Elburn and Chicago
06/26/21
Located in the West Town neighborhood at the intersection of W. Hubbard Street and N. Des Plaines Street, this girder bridge crosses Des Plaines Street.
Built in 1910 as the C&NW rebuilt tracks through the area, the bridge features four deck girder spans, set onto concrete and steel substructures. This particular design was popular at the time for subways. An addition of three through girder spans was added on for the southernmost two tracks in 1931.
In addition, the bridge has a ballasted deck which was constructed to protect the bridge. When constructed, the bridge was built for four tracks, although it was expanded to six in 1931.
Overall, the bridge appears to be in good condition with little major deterioration.
The author has ranked this bridge as being locally significant, due to the common design.
The photo above is an overview.