- 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 of Chicago, this large bridge crosses North Jefferson Street and West Hubbard Street.
Built in 1910, the bridge is located at the junction of two important former C&NW main lines. The south end of the bridge consists of four massive deck girders, which were once encased in concrete. In addition, these spans are set onto concrete piers. The northern end is where the split between the two lines happens. As a result, there are four deck girder spans over Jefferson Street, set onto steel piers and a concrete abutment.
As the Kenosha Subdivision (former Wisconsin Division) splits away, there are an additional four deck girder spans on concrete and steel crossing Hubbard Street.
Because of the unusual geometry of the bridge, it appears to have an odd design. The bridge is both curved, skewed and part of a wye.
The southern end of the bridge has six tracks, while the northern end splits into two sets of four tracks. In addition, the bridge also crosses another railroad spur.
Overall, the bridge appears to be in fair condition. The original concrete encasement of the bridge has been removed.
The author has ranked this bridge as being locally significant, due to the common design.
The photo above is an overview.