Railroad Bridges in Cook County, Illinois


Cook County is located in northeast Illinois, and is the most populous county in Illinois. The seat and largest city are both Chicago.

Random Bridges

Polly L Bridge

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Polly L Bridge

(Metropolitain West Side Elevated Truss Bridge)

This abandoned Pennsylvania through truss span was left standing after much of the of the Logan Square Branch was abandoned.

Near West Side, Chicago, Cook County, Illinois

Owner: Union Pacific Railroad

Status: Abandoned, reused as signal bridge

Built 1895

by

Mt. Vernon Bridge Company of Mt. Vernon, Ohio

for

Metropolitan West Side Elevated

Design:
258' Parker through truss

Description:
Parker through truss bridge over Union Pacific Railroad

Significance:

High

UP Addison-Lincoln Bridge

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UP Addison-Lincoln Bridge

(Chicago & North Western Railway Bridge #1303 1/2)

This unusual through plate girder bridge carries the Union Pacific North Line over Addison Street and Lincoln Avenue in the North Center neighborhood of Chicago

North Center, Chicago, Cook County, Illinois

Owner: Union Pacific Railroad

Status: In Use

Built 1959

by

Unknown

for

Chicago & North Western Railway

Design:
5 span flared through plate girder

Description:
Through plate girder bridge over Addison Street and Lincoln Avenue

Significance:

Local

MTRA 63rd Street Bridge

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MTRA 63rd Street Bridge

This through plate girder bridge carries the Metra Southwest Service over 63rd Street

Englewood, Chicago, Cook County, Illinois

Owner: Regional Transportation Authority (Metra)

Status: In Use

Built 1903

by

American Bridge Company of New York

for

Chicago & Western Indiana Railroad

Design:
1-44', 1-36' through plate girder (east tracks); 70' through plate girder (west tracks)

Description:
Through plate girder bridge over 63rd Street

Significance:

Local

BNSF Stephen Street Bridge (Lemont)

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BNSF Stephen Street Bridge (Lemont)

(Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railway Bridge #24C)

This through plate girder bridge crosses Stephen Street in Lemont

Lemont, Cook County, Illinois

Owner: BNSF Railway

Status: In Use

Built 1898 and erected 1903

by

Detroit Bridge & Iron Works of Detroit, Michigan

for

Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railway

Design:
80' through plate girder

Description:
Through plate girder bridge over Stephen Street

Significance:

Local

River Forest Railroad Crossing

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River Forest Railroad Crossing

(Soo Line Railroad Bridge #10.41)

This through plate girder bridge crosses the Union Pacific West Line, Hawthorne Avenue and Central Avenue in River Forest

River Forest, Cook County, Illinois

Owner: Canadian National Railway

Status: In Use

Built c. 1910 and raised 1914

by

Unknown

for

Minneapolis, St. Paul & Sault Ste. Marie Railroad

Design:
1-100' and 2-54' through plate girders

Description:
Through plate girder bridge over Union Pacific Railroad, Hawthorne Avenue and Central Avenue

Significance:

Local

UP Techny Road Bridge

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UP Techny Road Bridge

(Chicago & North Western Railway Bridge #866)

This concrete arch bridge crosses Techny Road in Northbrook

Northbrook, Cook County, Illinois

Owner: Union Pacific Railroad

Status: In Use

Built 1911

by

Chicago & North Western Railway

Design:
36' concrete arch

Description:
Concrete arch bridge over Techny Road

Significance:

Local

CN East Avenue Bridge (Berwyn)

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CN East Avenue Bridge (Berwyn)

(Illinois Central Railroad Bridge #W-10.9)

This concrete encased beam bridge crosses East Avenue in Berwyn

Berwyn, Cook County, Illinois

Owner: Canadian National Railway

Status: In Use

Built 1912

by

Unknown

for

Illinois Central Railroad

Design:
36' concrete encased beam

Description:
Concrete encased beam bridge over East Avenue

Significance:

Local

CN Des Plaines River Bridge (Thatcher Woods)

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CN Des Plaines River Bridge (Thatcher Woods)

(Soo Line Railroad Bridge #12.82)

This Pratt through truss bridge crosses the Des Plaines River near 1st Avenue in Melrose Park

Melrose Park, Cook County, Illinois

Owner: Canadian National Railway

Status: In Use

Built c. 1910

by

Unknown

for

Minneapolis, St. Paul & Sault Ste. Marie Railroad

Design:
150' Pratt through truss

Description:
Pratt through truss bridge over Des Plaines River

Significance:

Moderate

Bloomingdale Line Swing Bridge

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Bloomingdale Line Swing Bridge

(Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railway Bridge #Z-6)

This unique counterbalanced deck plate girder swing bridge crosses the North Branch Chicago River south of Cortland Street

Lincoln Park, Chicago, Cook County, Illinois to Logan Square, Chicago, Cook County, Illinois

Owner: City of Chicago

Status: Abandoned

Built 1899

by

American Bridge Works of Chicago, Illinois

for

Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railway

Design:
175' counterbalanced deck plate girder swing span and 70' deck plate girder

Description:
Counterbalanced deck plate girder swing bridge over North Branch Chicago River

Significance:

High

Abandoned Damen Avenue Bridge (New City)

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Abandoned Damen Avenue Bridge (New City)

(Grand Trunk Western Railroad Bridge #6.60)

This through plate girder bridge across Damen Avenue is one of several similar structures along the former Grand Trunk Western 49th Street Line

New City, Chicago, Cook County, Illinois

Owner: Canadian National Railway

Status: Abandoned

Built 1907

by

American Bridge Company of New York

for

Grand Trunk Western Railroad

Design:
1-44' and 2-11' through plate girder

Description:
Through plate girder bridge over Damen Avenue

Significance:

Local