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| Name | Ottawa Railroad Bridge Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad Bridge #81.45 |
| Built By | Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad |
| Currently Owned By | Illinois Railway |
| Superstructure Contractor | King Bridge Company of Cleveland, Ohio (Original Structure) American Bridge Company of New York (1933 Lift Towers) |
| Erection Contractor (1933 Reconstruction) | McClintic-Marshall Corporation of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania |
| Design Engineer (1933 Reconstruction) | Williams & Brown of New York |
| Length | 1010 Feet Total, 176 Foot Main Span |
| Width | 1 Track |
| Height Above Ground | 25 Feet (Estimated) |
| Superstructure Design | Pratt Through Truss With Vertical Lift Span, Deck Plate Girder and Timber Pile Trestle |
| Substructure Design | Stone Masonry and Timber Pile |
| Date Built | 1898, Reconstructed 1933 |
| Traffic Count | 0 Trains/Day (Bridge is Largely Unused) |
| Current Status | In Use |
| Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad Bridge Number | 81.45 |
| Illinois Railway Bridge Number | 81.45 |
| Significance | Regional Significance |
| Documentation Date | 6/9/2015; 2/22/2025 |
In 1869, the Ottawa, Oswego & Fox River Valley Railroad Company (OO&FRV) began construction on a 54-mile railroad line, extending from the existing Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad (CB&Q) mainline at Montgomery, Illinois to Streator, Illinois. The line opened to traffic in early 1871. The OO&FRV was operated under lease by the CB&Q, which was beginning to acquire and construct a large number of lines throughout northern Illinois. This route served as a branch line, connecting to rural industries in Streator. The OO&FRV was formally merged into the CB&Q in 1899. In 1970, the CB&Q was merged with the Northern Pacific Railway and the Great Northern Railway to form Burlington Northern Railroad (BN). In 1996, BN merged with Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railway to form BNSF Railway. The line would be sold to Illinois Railnet in 1999, which currently operates the line. Today, the Ottawa to Montgomery segment of the line is still in use, serving various aggregate industries in LaSalle County. The Ottawa to Streator portion of the line is out of service, and is used for railcar storage.
View an article describing the conversion of this bridge to a lift bridge
Located in Ottawa, this through truss bridge once carried the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad over the Illinois River. The first bridge at this location was a wooden deck truss, set onto stone piers. This bridge was constructed when the line was initially built, and the trusses used a howe design. In 1898, the bridge would be reconstructed with a truss and girder bridge, set onto new stone piers. The bridge would consist of four 176-foot, 8-panel, pin-connected Pratt through truss spans, approached by a 73-foot deck plate girder on the north, and timber trestle spans on either side. These spans would be fabricated by the King Bridge Company, and the stonework either constructed by company forces or by an unknown contractor. The truss spans would utilize a standard CB&Q design, including built up members and a bar for the portal and sway bracing. This design of truss was used extensively by the CB&Q between the 1880s and early 20th Century.
In the 20th Century, the Army Corps of Engineers began to study improvements to navigation along the Illinois River. This bridge proved to be a significant hazard to navigation, due to the vertical and horizontal clearances. In response, the bridge was converted to a vertical lift span in 1933, giving the bridge its current configuration. As part of the conversion to a lift bridge, towers were added over the ends of the south and third truss spans, and machinery added to operate the spans. Counterweights consisting of concrete were also added to the tower. The center of the remaining truss spans would become the new movable span. This structure was one of three similar cases on the Illinois River, all of which were rebuilt by converting a fixed span to a lift span. Converting a fixed span to a lift span proved to be an effective way to meet the new navigation requirements. The towers for the lift span were fabricated by American Bridge Company, and McClintic-Marshall Corporation erected the new lift structure. Today, the bridge remains in service as , although little traffic exists south of the bridge. Overall, the bridge appears to be in fair condition, with no significant deterioration noted. The author has ranked this bridge as being regionally significant, due to the age and unusual configuration as a vertical lift bridge.
Citations
| Builder and build date | King Bridge Company plaque |
| Builder and build date (reconstruction) | Railway Age; Volume 97, Issue 6 |
| Railroad History Citation | ICC Valuation Information, Compiled by Richard S. Steele |