The Van Buren Street Bridge is a

bascule bridge A bascule bridge (also referred to as a drawbridge or a lifting bridge) is a moveable bridge with a counterweight that continuously balances a span, or leaf, throughout its upward swing to provide clearance for boat traffic. It may be single- or ...

that spans the

Chicago River The Chicago River is a system of rivers and canals with a combined length of that runs through the city of Chicago, including its center (the Chicago Loop). Though not especially long, the river is notable because it is one of the reasons for ...

in downtown

Chicago (''City in a Garden''); I Will , image_map = , map_caption = Interactive Map of Chicago , coordinates = , coordinates_footnotes = , subdivision_type = Country , subdivision_name ...

, Illinois, United States. It is the sixth bridge at this location and carrying this name, and was completed in 1956. It replaced an 1895 Rolling Lift-type bascule bridge designed by

William Scherzer William Donald Scherzer (January 27, 1858 – July 20, 1893) was an American engineer and inventor who invented the rolling lift bridge. Early life Scherzer's parents were William and Wilhelmina Scherzer, who immigrated from Germany in 1847 ...

References

External links

* Bascule bridges in the United States Bridges completed in 1956 Bridges in Chicago {{Chicago-struct-stub