Abraham Lincoln Memorial Bridge facts for kids
- The Abraham Lincoln Memorial Bridge can also refer to the Blair Bridge in Iowa and Nebraska. There is also a Lincoln Memorial Bridge in Vincennes, Indiana.
Quick facts for kids Abraham Lincoln Memorial Bridge |
|
|---|---|
Abraham Lincoln Memorial Bridge over the Illinois River, near LaSalle, Illinois.
|
|
| Coordinates | 41°19′29″N 89°04′37″W / 41.3247°N 89.0769°W |
| Carries | Four lanes of   I-39 / US 51 |
| Crosses | Illinois River, IL 351, Illinois and Michigan Canal, Iowa Interstate Railroad, and Buzzi Unicem industrial rail lead (the former Illinois Central Railroad mainline). |
| Locale | LaSalle, Illinois and Oglesby, Illinois |
| Official name | Abraham Lincoln Memorial Bridge |
| Maintained by | Illinois Department of Transportation |
| ID number | 000050019120847 |
| Characteristics | |
| Design | Through arch |
| Total length | 2,170.8 metres (7,122.0 ft) |
| Width | 4 traffic lanes, 82 ft (25 m) |
| Longest span | 619.9 feet (189 m) |
| Clearance above | 19.3 feet (5.88 m) |
| History | |
| Opened | 1987 |
The Abraham Lincoln Memorial Bridge is an important road bridge in Illinois. It helps cars and trucks cross the Illinois River, the Illinois and Michigan Canal, and several local roads and railways. This bridge carries two major highways: Interstate 39 (I-39) and U.S. Route 51 (US 51). These highways are very important for travel through central Illinois.
Contents
About the Abraham Lincoln Memorial Bridge
This bridge is named after Abraham Lincoln, who was the sixteenth president of the United States. It is a four-lane bridge, meaning it has two lanes for traffic going in each direction. The bridge connects the towns of LaSalle and Oglesby in Illinois.
How the Bridge is Built
The Abraham Lincoln Memorial Bridge has a special design called a "through-arch bridge." This means the main part of the bridge has a large arch above the road. The road hangs from this arch. The main arch span over the river is about 620 feet (189 meters) long.
The bridge is very long in total. Including all the parts that lead up to the main span, it stretches for about 7,121 feet (2,171 meters). This makes it a very big structure that helps many people travel safely every day.
What the Bridge Crosses
The bridge crosses several important features. Its main job is to go over the Illinois River. It also crosses Illinois Route 351, the historic Illinois and Michigan Canal, and some railroad tracks. These include tracks used by the Iowa Interstate Railroad and an industrial rail line.
History of the Bridge
The Abraham Lincoln Memorial Bridge was built in 1987. It was opened when Interstate 39 (I-39) was first extended south into this area of Illinois. Since then, I-39 has been extended even further south, connecting more parts of the state. The bridge has been a key part of this major highway system for decades.
