Bridges over North Shore Channel

From north to south:

Linden Avenue: (Bridge Hunter broke Mar 22, 2023; Satellite)

Oakton Avenue: (Bridge Hunter broke Mar 22, 2023; Satellite)

Irving Park Road: (Bridge Hunter broke Mar 22, 2023; Satellite)

Building bridges across the channel had to be a significant fraction of the cost of digging the North Shore Channel.

Linden

MWRD posted
A view looking southwest at the Linden Avenue Bridge over the North Shore Channel in Wilmette, Illinois, showing work on the bridge struts on August 29, 1910, three months before channel construction was complete.
Victor StLawrence What is the average depth of the channel?
The North Shore Channel is generally between 5 - 7 feet deep when the Chicago Area Waterway System (CAWS) is at it’s typical operating height. At some points, it can go as deep as 10 feet and as shallow as 3 feet. You may learn more about the CAWS here: https://mwrd.org/chicago-area-waterway-system

Oakton Avenue

MWRD posted
A view to the north showing work on a foundation for the Oakton Avenue bridge over the North Shore Channel in Skokie, Illinois, on July 12, 1909. The North Shore Channel was built by the MWRD between 1907 and 1910 and is a part of the Chicago Area Waterway System (CAWS), which includes dams, locks, port facilities and waterways. The MWRD controls the flow and water level in the CAWS to achieve efficient drainage in dry and wet weather, prevent discharges to Lake Michigan and ensure safe passage of commercial and recreational navigation. The majority of the CAWS is comprised of manmade canals such as the North Shore Channel, Cal-Sag Channel and the Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal. The rest are formerly natural streams that have been dredged, straightened, widened, realigned, and otherwise modified to facilitate the conveyance of the MWRD’s treated water, commercial navigation and flood control. Learn more about the history and management of the Chicago Area Waterway System here ⬇️⚓🐢
https://mwrd.org/chicago-area-waterway-system

When I looked at a satellite image, I noticed that the bridge is significantly wider than the street. I presume that is to have more lanes of traffic crossing McCormick Blvd. during a green light. If I ever get up that way again, I need to use the rowing dock to get a photo of the underside of the bridge. I'm currently guessing that I should use the label "bridgeGirderConcrete" instead of "bridgeGirderSteel".

Satellite

Irving Park Road

MWRD posted
A view of Irving Park Road looking east towards the bridge over the North Branch of the Chicago River in Chicago on April 8, 1903.