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CN Commonwealth Avenue Bridge (Waukegan)

Through Plate Girder Bridge over Commonwealth Avenue
Waukegan, Lake County, Illinois

Click the Photo Above to See All Photos of This Bridge!
Name CN Commonwealth Avenue Bridge (Waukegan)
Built By Elgin, Joliet & Eastern Railroad
Contractor Unknown
Currently Owned By Canadian National Railway
Length 85 Feet Total, 45 Foot Largest Span
Width 1 Track
Height Above Ground 20 Feet (Estimated)
Superstructure Type Through Plate Girder
Substructure Type Concrete and Steel Tower
Date Built 1905
Traffic Count 5 Trains/Day (Estimated)
Current Status In Use
EJ&E Bridge Number 16
Significance Local Significance
Documentation Date July 2015


Located near the intersection of Commonwealth Avenue and Broadway in Waukegan, this girder bridge crosses Commonwealth Avenue.
Built in 1905, the bridge features a pair of through girder spans, set onto concrete and steel substructures.
This type of bridge was commonly used in the early 1900s, as it was cheap and durable.
Commonwealth Avenue currently dead ends immediately under this bridge. A parking lot has taken over the former street.
Overall, the bridge appears to be in fair to good condition.

The author has ranked this bridge as being locally significant, due to the common design.
The photo above is an overview.

Citations

Source Type

Source

Build Date EJ&E Online Archive
Railroad Line History Source ICC Valuation Information, Compiled by Richard S. Steele