This structure carried a Rock Island spur over the I&M Canal. The spur was built to serve the Marseilles Riverfront.
The spur appears to have been built in 1888, when all the bridges were reportedly built. In addition to this structure, there are three more at the Nabisco Plant.
The swing bridge was built to cross the I&M Canal, a once navigable (and flowing) waterway. The Illinois and Michigan (I&M) Canal was built to connect the Great Lakes at Chicago to the Illinois River at La Salle, and ultimately the Mississippi River.
However, the canal was soon replaced by the shorter and wider Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal in 1900. The I&M Canal quickly deteriorated, and in 2015 large sections do not flow.
This section is no exception. A heavy greenery surrounds this structure, making documentation near impossible.
Currently, the bridge consists of a single through girder span, set onto an unknown substructure.
However, among the many things to note are the likely operational status of the swing mechanism, meaning the bridge could turn if ever needed.
Also, the date of 1887 provided on the plaque may be inaccurate for this bridge, and no record can be found for a Manufactures Bridge Company.
Despite this, a large amount of research likely went into these two components, so they have been integrated into the information about this structure. However, the author believes the correct build date is closer to 1900.
Currently, the bridge is abandoned and has not been used in many years. Overall, the bridge appears to be in fair condition.
The author has ranked the bridge as being locally significant, due to the common design.
The photo above is an overview. The views are oftentimes limited of this structure during the summer months, seen above.
| Upstream | Morris Terminal Rail Bridge |
| Downstream | Utica Rail Bridge |