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Joliet Lift Bridge

Vertical Lift Bridge over Des Plaines River
Joliet, Will County, Illinois

Click the Photo Above to See All Photos of This Bridge!
Name Joliet Lift Bridge
Built By Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific Railroad
Contractor American Bridge Company of New York
Currently Owned By CSX Transportation
Length 557 Feet Total, 305 Foot Main Span
Width 2 Tracks, 1 In Use
Height Above Ground 15 Feet (Estimated)
Superstructure Type Camelback Through Truss Lift Bridge
Substructure Type Concrete
Date Built 1932
Traffic Count 10 Trains/Day (Estimated)
Current Status In Use
RI Bridge Number 407
Significance Moderate Significance
Documentation Date July 2015


This massive lift bridge dominates the Joliet skyline when seen from I-80.
Built in 1932, this bridge replaced an older truss bridge. It features a 20 panel, riveted Camelback Through Truss, set onto large towers.
This main span is approached by a Subdivided Warren Through Truss on either side. The one on the west end is 151 Feet, while the east one is 101 Feet.
In addition, the bridge also features concrete substructures, typical of many newer age bridges. The large vertical lift span is required to allow massive ships to pass through en route to the Illinois River.

The author has ranked this bridge as being moderately significant, due to the truss design.
The photo above is an overview, while the photo below is an Historic American Engineering Record photo.

Des Plaines River Railroad Bridges
Upstream Crest Hill Lift Bridge
Downstream Confluence with Kankakee River



HAER Photos

Citations

Source Type

Source

Build Date Historic American Engineering Record
Railroad Line History Source ICC Valuation Information, Compiled by Richard S. Steele