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Purple Line Ridge Avenue Bridge

Through Plate Girder Bridge over Ridge Avenue and Lincoln Street
Evanston, Cook County, Illinois

Click the Photo Above to See All Photos of This Bridge!
Name Purple Line Ridge Avenue Bridge
Built By Chicago Rapid Transit Company
Built By Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul & Pacific Railway
Contractor Unknown
Currently Owned By Chicago Transit Authority
Length 145 Feet Total, 105 Foot Main Spans
Width 2 Tracks
Height Above Ground 11 Feet 7 Inches
Superstructure Type Through Plate Girder
Substructure Type Concrete and Steel Tower
Date Built 1931
Traffic Count 200 Trains/Day (Estimated)
Current Status In Use
Significance Minimal Significance
Documentation Date July 2018


Located in Evanston, this through girder bridge carries the CTA Purple Line over Ridge Avenue and Lincoln Street.
Built during 1930-1931, this bridge features a three span through plate girder bridge, set onto steel and concrete substructures. The bridge runs at a heavy skew.
This type of structure is typical for large bridge structures, particularly over an intersection. The abutments can be expanded to four tracks.
Overall, the bridge appears to be in good condition. Little serious deterioration was noted on the bridge.

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

Citations

Source Type

Source

Build Date Elevation of tracks
Railroad Line History Source ICC Valuation Information, Compiled by Richard S. Steele