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The Wabash Avenue Bridge (officially,
Google Earth Model
1930 establishments in Illinois Bascule bridges in the United States Bridges completed in 1930 Bridges in Chicago Historic American Engineering Record in Chicago Road bridges in Illinois Steel bridges in the United States
Irv Kupcinet
Irving Kupcinet (July 31, 1912 – November 10, 2003) was an American newspaper columnist for the ''Chicago Sun-Times'', television talk-show host, and radio personality based in Chicago, Illinois. He was popularly known by the nickname "Kup".
...
Bridge) over 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 ...
was built in 1930. Standing west of the Michigan Avenue Bridge
The DuSable Bridge (formerly the Michigan Avenue Bridge) is a bascule bridge that carries Michigan Avenue across the main stem of the Chicago River in downtown Chicago, Illinois, United States. The bridge was proposed in the early 20th century as ...
and east of Marina City
Marina City is a mixed-use residential-commercial building complex in Chicago, Illinois, United States, North America, designed by architect Bertrand Goldberg. The multi-building complex opened between 1963 and 1967 and occupies almost an entire ...
, the 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 ...
connects the Near North Side with " The Loop" area.
The single-deck, double-leaf 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 ...
was designed by Thomas Pihlfeldt and built by the Ketler and Elliot Company. The American Institute of Steel Construction awarded it the "Most Beautiful" bridge in 1930.
The control houses for controlling bridge operations are on the northwest and southwest corners of the bridge. The control houses are identical in design. In 1961 the control houses were upgraded to allow single man operation. Electrical modernization also accompanied this upgrade. While the northern control house is no longer in use, it still stands.
See also
*List of bridges documented by the Historic American Engineering Record in Illinois
This is a list of bridges documented by the Historic American Engineering Record in the U.S. state of Illinois.
Bridges
Notes
References
{{HAER list, structure=bridge
*List
*List
Illinois
Bridges
Bridges
A bridge is a structure bu ...
References
External links
*{{HAER , survey=IL-48 , id=il0613 , title=Bascule Bridge, Wabash Avenue, Spanning Chicago River at North Wabash Avenue, Chicago, Cook County, ILGoogle Earth Model
1930 establishments in Illinois Bascule bridges in the United States Bridges completed in 1930 Bridges in Chicago Historic American Engineering Record in Chicago Road bridges in Illinois Steel bridges in the United States