Franklin Street Bridge

Franklin–Orleans Street Bridge

Franklin Street Bridge in 1987
Coordinates 41°53′14″N 87°38′9″W / 41.88722°N 87.63583°W / 41.88722; -87.63583Coordinates: 41°53′14″N 87°38′9″W / 41.88722°N 87.63583°W / 41.88722; -87.63583
Carries Automobiles, Pedestrians
Crosses Chicago River
Locale Chicago, Cook County, Illinois
Official name Franklin–Orleans Street Bridge
Characteristics
Design Double-leaf bascule
Total length 320 feet (98 m; 57 sm)
Width 62 feet (19 m)
Longest span 220 feet (67 m)
Clearance below 18.7 feet (5.7 m)
History
Constructed by Great Lakes Dredge and Dock Company, Ketler–Elliot Company
Opened October 1920
The bridge raised for sailboats

The Franklin–Orleans Street Bridge, commonly known as the Franklin Street Bridge, is a bascule bridge over the Chicago River, in Chicago, Illinois, United States. It was built in October 1920, and is located directly southwest of the Merchandise Mart. Connecting the Near North Side with "The Loop," is at the junction of the branches of the river, lying directly west of the Wells Street Bridge. It carries four lanes of traffic in the northbound direction, and sidewalks are available on both sides of the bridge.

Great Lakes Dredge and Dock Company was the contractor for the substructure, and the Ketler–Elliot Company was the contractor for the superstructure. Original electrical equipment was installed by C. H. Norwood. The bridge is an example of a trunnion bascule bridge, with each half of the roadway is cantilevered out from shore abutments. The bridge is extremely efficient to operate.

The bridge provided a new connection to the southern banks of the river and aided in westward expansion along Wacker Drive.

See also

References

  1. ↑ "The Buildings of Batman Begins". Glass Steel and Stone: Global Architecture Encyclopedia. Retrieved 2007-05-27.


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