Lake Shore and Michigan Southern Railway, Bridge No. 6 facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Lake Shore and Michigan Southern Railway, Bridge No. 6 |
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Bridge No. 6 in 1999.
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| Coordinates | 41°43′11″N 87°32′34″W / 41.71972°N 87.54278°W |
| Carries | Two tracks per span, four total |
| Crosses | Calumet River |
| Locale | Chicago, Illinois |
| Maintained by | Norfolk Southern Railway |
| Characteristics | |
| Design | Vertical-lift bridge |
| Material | Steel |
| Width | 31 feet (9.4 m) each span |
| Longest span | 209.75 feet (63.9 m) |
| Number of spans | Two parallel |
| History | |
| Designer | Waddell & Harrington |
| Constructed by | Dravo Contracting Company |
| Construction begin | 1912 |
| Construction end | 1915 |
The Lake Shore and Michigan Southern Railway, Bridge No. 6 is a special kind of bridge. It is a vertical-lift bridge made of strong steel. This bridge has two separate parts, called spans, that run side-by-side. Each span can carry two train tracks. The bridge crosses over the Calumet River in Chicago, Illinois, in the United States.
Today, the Norfolk Southern Railway owns this bridge. However, it is no longer used for trains. It is kept in a raised position, allowing boats to pass underneath easily.
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Why Was Bridge No. 6 Built?
This bridge was built to replace an older bridge at the same spot. The first bridge was a swing bridge. A swing bridge opens by swinging its middle part to the side, like a gate. It was built for the Lake Shore and Michigan Southern Railway.
Planning a New Bridge
In 1909, the United States Army Corps of Engineers decided the old swing bridge needed to be replaced. This group helps manage waterways and rivers. They looked at different designs for the new bridge.
They thought about using a bascule bridge. A bascule bridge opens by lifting one or two parts upwards, like a seesaw. They also considered a vertical-lift design. This is the type of bridge that was eventually built.
Construction of the Vertical-Lift Bridge
Work began on the foundations for a single, very wide vertical-lift span. This one span would have held four train tracks. But the plans changed. Instead, they decided to build two separate vertical-lift spans. Each of these spans would carry two tracks. The construction of these two parallel spans was finished in 1915.
A Special Landmark in Chicago
On December 12, 2007, Bridge No. 6 was given an important title. It was named a Chicago Landmark. This means the bridge is recognized as a historically important structure in the city of Chicago.
