street railroad bridge chicago street railroad bridge known avenue bridge single leaf bridge north branch downtown chicago illinois time opening world longest heaviest bridge previous bridges site included bridge cross chicago railroad bridge steel bridges united_states chicago_sun-times railroad customer east bridge moved printing plant downtown chicago bridge unused designated chicago landmark location street railroad bridge located runs east west orientation spanning north branch near west community areas chicago south historic area confluence main stem north south branches east west center railroad track bridge spur line branches route mile north west bridge railroad east bridge abandoned previous bridges 1820s small settlement grew wolf point june owned tavern north shore river authorized run ferry mouth north branch river south present street ferry replaced pedestrian bridge bridge constructed october chicago railroad began operating depot west near corner canal authorized railroad construct bridge north branch river early july railroad began purchase land needed build east river order access new station floating bridge designed built north branch roughly location earlier pedestrian bridge bridge railroad bridge chicago completed allowing trains access railroad new subsequently industry north bank far slip navy pier original railroad bridge replaced swing bridge steel railroad bridges bridge constructed steel proved bridge replaced replacement bridge constructed land floated position allowing old structure removed new place hours march march bridge river traffic railroad traffic increasingly competition october disaster narrowly avoided seven coach passenger train people board approached open swing bridge fast barely able stop time ending wheels hanging approach road river boats river getting larger finding increasingly difficult navigate bridges mouth north branch ordered clearing swing bridges near street river traffic construction started new bridge allow space boats pass river design construction bridge designed carry railroad tracks river superstructure consists spans constructed foot plate span west bank river foot main span rests east pier size weight main span completed world longest heaviest span required pier constructed foundations extend bedrock feet river bed achieve sunk depth feet river bed foot diameter wells sunk remaining feet bridge constructed great lakes usage chicago originally planned bridges carry railroad tracks time bridge opened september alternative scheme underway led closure replacement new terminal west bank river new station opened street railroad bridge left handle freight traffic opened site old built air rights chicago spring railroad opened new freight house underneath building designed handle short tons short tons freight day abandonment second half 20th century number companies railroad shipping chicago near north declined severely 1970s customers east end line included candy factory construction columbus drive bridge wiped right way spur navy pier abandoned service ended 1980s 1990s traffic remaining section spur served customer chicago_sun-times train day newspaper moved printing plant downtown chicago early leaving traffic bridge permanently raised open position december bridge historic chicago railroad bridges designated chicago landmarks proposals reuse tests conducted spur commuter line stops michigan avenue plan dropped financial reasons 1970s architect suggested light rail line spur connect chicago downtown stations river north neighborhoods city commissioned alternatives analysis look proposal create transit link michigan avenue train tunnel running buildings east proposed avenue include street railroad bridge carry buses
Kinzie Street railroad bridge