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

Abandoned Winchester Avenue Bridge (New City)

Image name

Abandoned Winchester Avenue Bridge (New City)

(Grand Trunk Western Railroad Bridge #6.54)

This through plate girder bridge across Winchester 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:
45' through plate girder

Description:
Through plate girder bridge over Winchester Avenue

Significance:

Local

UP Wrightwood Avenue Bridge (Lincoln Park)

Image name

UP Wrightwood Avenue Bridge (Lincoln Park)

(Chicago & North Western Railway Bridge #1301)

This through plate girder bridge carries the Union Pacific North Line over Wrightwood Avenue in the Lincoln Park neighborhood of Chicago

Lincoln Park, Chicago, Cook County, Illinois

Owner: Union Pacific Railroad

Status: In Use, Scheduled For Replacement

Built 1899

by

Lassig Bridge & Iron Works of Chicago

for

Chicago & North Western Railway

Design:
40' through plate girder

Description:
Through plate girder bridge over Wrightwood Avenue

Significance:

Local

Lake Street Bridge

Image name

Lake Street Bridge

This iconic through truss bascule bridge carries Lake Street and the CTA Pink and Green Lines over the South Branch Chicago River

Loop, Chicago, Cook County, Illinois to Near West Side, Chicago, Cook County, Illinois

Owner: City of Chicago

Status: In Use

Built 1916

by

American Bridge Company of New York; FitzSimons & Connell Dredge & Dock Company of Chicago, Illinois and Ketler-Elliott Erection Company of Chicago, Illinois

for

City of Chicago

Design:
245' Double deck Warren through truss bascule (double leaf fixed trunnion)

Description:
Double leaf Warren through truss bascule bridge over South Branch Chicago River

Significance:

Regional

Abandoned Damen Avenue Bridge (New City)

Image name

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

UP Prairie Creek Bridge (Des Plaines)

Image name

UP Prairie Creek Bridge (Des Plaines)

(Chicago & North Western Railway Bridge #21)

This stone and concrete arch bridge crosses Prairie Creek on the east side of Des Plaines

Des Plaines, Cook County, Illinois

Owner: Union Pacific Railroad

Status: In Use

Built 1883 and 1929

by

Unknown and Bates & Rogers Construction Company of Chicago, Illinois

for

Chicago & North Western Railway

Design:
2-15' stone arch (north tracks) and 2-15' concrete arch (south track)

Description:
Stone and concrete arch bridge over Prairie Creek

Significance:

Local

CN Lake Street Bridge (River Forest)

Image name

CN Lake Street Bridge (River Forest)

(Soo Line Railroad Bridge #11.51)

This deck plate girder bridge crosses Lake Street in River Forest

River Forest, Cook County, Illinois

Owner: Canadian National Railway

Status: In Use

Built c. 1910

by

Unknown

for

Minneapolis, St. Paul & Sault Ste. Marie Railroad

Design:
1-42' and 2-21' deck plate girders

Description:
Deck plate girder bridge over Lake Street

Significance:

Local

Abandoned Prairie Avenue Bridge (Grand Boulevard)

Image name

Abandoned Prairie Avenue Bridge (Grand Boulevard)

This through plate girder bridge carried the former Chicago Junction Railway over Prairie Avenue

Grand Boulevard, Chicago, Cook County, Illinois

Owner: City of Chicago

Status: Abandoned

Built 1905

by

American Bridge Company of New York

for

Chicago Junction Railway

Design:
1-55' and 2-25' through plate girder

Description:
Through plate girder bridge over Prairie Avenue

Significance:

Local

UP Addison-Lincoln Bridge

Image name

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

Bloomingdale Line Swing Bridge

Image name

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

Bloomingdale Trail - Hermitage Avenue Bridge

Image name

Bloomingdale Trail - Hermitage Avenue Bridge

(Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railway Bridge #Z-8F)

This concrete slab bridge carries the Bloomingdale (606) Trail over Hermitage Avenue in the West Town neighborhood of Chicago

West Town, Chicago, Cook County, Illinois

Owner: City of Chicago

Status: Open to Pedestrian Traffic

Built 1914

by

Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railway

Design:
2-20' and 2-10' concrete slabs

Description:
Concrete slab bridge over Hermitage Avenue

Significance:

Local