Industrial History: 1916 Jackson Boulevard Bridge over the South Branch

(Bridge Hunter, Historic Bridges, Chicago Loop Bridges, HAER; 3D Satellite)

This bridge replaced the previous 1888 swing bridge.

MWRD posted
A view to the northeast of the Jackson Boulevard Bridge over the South Branch of the Chicago River on December 15, 1915, when the bridge construction was nearly complete. The bascule style bridge was built by the Sanitary District (now MWRD) in 1915 and opened to the public in 1916.

The development of the Chicago trunnion bascule bridge occurred during the first three decades of the twentieth century. Despite the controversy over patent infringement — Joseph E. Strauss charged the City of Chicago engineers with infringing on his patented StraussTrunion bascule bridge — the Chicago bascule received great acclaim within the civil engineering profession. The Jackson Boulevard Bridge was completed according to this design. [HAER-data]

MWRD posted
A view of the Jackson Boulevard Bridge, looking south down the South Branch of the Chicago River on May 26, 1916. The bascule style bridge was built by the Sanitary District (now MWRD) in 1915.
[Note the Metropolitan "L" Bridge in the background.]

MWRD posted on Mar 21, 2023
A westward view of the deck of the Jackson Street bridge taken from a fire escape on April 1, 1916.

USACE, Chicago District posted
#FlashbackFriday to a large draft vessel going under a lifted bridge in the Chicago River! U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Chicago District dredged our River to a depth of 20' in 1906, which made it possible for these large vehicles to navigate the river and bring additional commerce to the Region!
Dennis DeBruler: The quad-track bridge was the Metropolitan "L" Bridge. So the freighter is heading south on the South Branch. I wonder if it is carrying lumber.
The bascule bridge leaf in the background is the Jackson Boulevard Bridge, which was built in 1916 to replace a swing bridge.

MWRD posted
Construction of the west leaf of the Jackson Boulevard bridge over the South Branch of the Chicago River on October 13, 1915. The bascule style bridge was built by the Sanitary District (now MWRD) in 1915.

HAER ILL, 16-CHIG, 126--1
1. GENERAL VIEW OF THE BRIDGE FROM ADAMS STREET BRIDGE, LOOKING SOUTH. - Chicago River Bascule Bridge, Jackson Boulevard, Chicago, Cook County, IL

HAER ILL, 16-CHIG, 126--2
Looking North

Jim Phillips via LoopNorthNews
[Please access the link for Jim's article about the 100th birthday of the bridge.]
The first three loop bridges built by the Sanitary District were "Scherzer rolling lift bridges at Randolph, Dearborn, and State Streets. The Jackson bridge is a trunnion bascule bridge – and of the 18 Loop bridges it is the sole surviving Sanitary District bridge."
It was one of two road bridges in the Loop designed by Joseph Strauss. The other was Lake Shore Drive. The article says he is better known as chief engineer on the Golden Gate Bridge. I also know him as the designer of railroad bridges. See the "bridgeStrauss" label in this blog.

Update:

MWRD posted
A view from the Adams Street Bridge looking south at the South Branch of the Chicago River showing the new Jackson Street Bridge raised before opening to the public on January 29, 1916.
MWRD posted on Nov 26, 2022

Ron Kolman commented on the MWRD post
Nice photo. Very cool CONCAVE building facade on right. Some electrical company sign is distance. Enlarged/sharpened/de-shadowed.
[I don't know what he means about a "concave building facade."]

MWRD posted
The cofferdam on the west side of the South Branch of the Chicago River during construction of the Jackson Boulevard bridge on March 4, 1914.
[The roof of the original Union Station is peaking over the Pennsy freight house.]

MWRD posted
The cofferdam on the west side of the South Branch of the ‪#‎Chicago‬ River during construction of the Jackson Blvd. bridge on April 2, 1914, viewed from the south side of the swing bridge that was being replaced.
MWRD posted
The cofferdam on the west side of the South Branch of the Chicago River during construction of the Jackson Boulevard Bridge in Chicago, Illinois, on April 2, 1914. The MWRD built the bascule bridge to replace the previous swing bridge. It was completed in late 1915 and was opened to traffic in January 1916.

MWRD posted on May 11, 2022
Construction of the west side of the Jackson Street bridge over the South Branch of the Chicago River on November 25, 1914.

MWRD posted
Historical photo of the week: Construction of the west abutment for the Jackson Boulevard bridge, viewed from the northwest corner looking south down the South Branch of the Chicago River, on February 19, 1915. The bascule style bridge was built by the Sanitary District (now MWRD) in 1915.
Dennis DeBruler The Scherzer rolling lift bridge of the Metropolitan West Elevated is in the background. The Chicago, Aurora & Elgin interurban also used that bridge.
MWRD posted

The "L" bridge and the Van Buren Street Bridge were the first two bridges built by Scherzer. He developed this design because there was not enough room between the two bridges for swing bridges. Once again, necessity is the mother of invention.

MWRD posted on Jan 2, 2023
Construction of a bridge at Jackson Boulevard on the west side of South Branch of the Chicago River on April 28, 1915.

Chicago History Museum via DNAinfo
View of Jackson Boulevard Bridge looking south down the Chicago River in Chicago, Illinois, 1916.

MWRD posted
Vehicles and pedestrians wait to cross the South Branch of the Chicago River at the west side of the Jackson Boulevard bridge on April 1, 1916. The bascule style bridge was built by the Sanitary District (now MWRD) in 1915.
MWRD posted

MWRD posted
A view of the Jackson Boulevard bridge, looking east, on April 1, 1916. The bascule style bridge was built by the Sanitary District (now MWRD) in 1915.

The Met Bridge and the Van Buren Street Bridge were the first two bridges built by Scherzer. He developed this design because there was not enough room between the two bridges for swing bridges. Once again, necessity is the mother of invention.