Wells Street Bridge (Chicago)

Wells Street Bridge
Wells Street Bridge raised to allow sailboats to pass
Coordinates41°53′15″N 87°38′02″W / 41.88750°N 87.63389°W / 41.88750; -87.63389
CarriesAutomobiles
Brown Purple
Pedestrians
CrossesChicago River
LocaleChicago, Cook County, Illinois
Official nameWells Street Bridge
Characteristics
DesignDouble-deck, double-leaf bascule bridge
Total length231 feet[1]
Width72 feet[1]
Longest span268 feet[1]
Clearance above16 feet[1]
Rail characteristics
No. of tracks2
Track gauge4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge
ElectrifiedThird rail, 600 V DC
History
DesignerE. H. Bennett
OpenedFebruary 11, 1922
Rebuilt2012-2013
Location
Map

The Wells Street Bridge is a bascule bridge over the Chicago River, in downtown Chicago, Illinois, United States, which was built in 1922. Standing east of the Franklin Street Bridge and southeast of the Merchandise Mart, the bridge connects the Near North Side with "The Loop". The bridge is double-decked, the lower deck carrying three lanes of traffic south over the river with sidewalks on both sides of the street. The upper deck serves as a bridge for the Chicago Transit Authority's Brown and Purple lines. Bridge tenders' houses for controlling the bridge are on the northwest and southeast corners of the bridge.

History

Bridge carrying a Chicago Transit Authority Chicago 'L' train
State Street Bridge (foreground), Dearborn Street Bridge, Clark Street Bridge, La Salle Street Bridge, Wells Street Bridge, and Franklin Street Bridge

The bridge was constructed during the first term of William Hale Thompson. The Chicago Plan Commission and Chicago Art Commission provided design input to architect E. H. Bennett.

The bridge was completely rebuilt 2012-2013 by the Chicago Department of Transportation.[2][3] The two leaves (north and south) were built off-site and floated on the river to Wells Street for installation.[4] The other half of the bridge was rebuilt in place – the two portions closest to each river bank, containing the counterweights for the bascule bridge.[5]

The second period of the reconstruction that affects Chicago Transit Authority train service on the upper level began at 10 pm April 26, 2013 and ended before the morning rush hour Monday May 6, 2013. The north leaf of the bridge was installed in the nine-day period, again floating the section on the Chicago River from its construction site to the bridge. The bridge reopened fully on November 21, 2013, when the lower level of the bridge opened to vehicles, bicycles and pedestrians.[6][7][8][9] The bridge tender houses are also part of the rehabilitation of the bridge.[10]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c d Phillips, James S. (2024). "N. Wells Street". Bridge Quick Facts. Chicago Loop Bridges. Retrieved November 3, 2024.
  2. ^ Hilkevitch, Jon (October 30, 2012). "Wells Street Bridge Reconstruction". Chicago Tribune. Archived from the original on June 3, 2013. Retrieved March 10, 2013.
  3. ^ "Wells Street Bridge Reconstruction". Customer Alerts. Chicago Transit Authority. 2013. Archived from the original on March 2, 2013. Retrieved March 11, 2013.
  4. ^ Chicago Dept of Transportation (March 1, 2013). "Video Illustration of the Wells Street Bridge Reconstruction". City of Chicago tv. Archived from the original on December 13, 2021. Retrieved March 10, 2013.
  5. ^ Dizikes, Cynthia (March 1, 2013). "Crews prepare for intensive surgery on Wells Street Bridge". Chicago Tribune. Archived from the original on May 19, 2013. Retrieved April 26, 2013.
  6. ^ Levy, Rachel (April 26, 2013). "CTA outlines changes for 2nd closing of Wells Street bridge (related photo & maps)". Chicago Tribune. Archived from the original on April 26, 2013. Retrieved April 26, 2013.
  7. ^ "Wells Street Bridge". Historic Bridges. Archived from the original on September 10, 2015. Retrieved June 7, 2015.
  8. ^ "Mayor Rahm Emanuel Reopens Historic Wells Street Bridge to Traffic". City of Chicago. November 21, 2013. Archived from the original on September 12, 2015. Retrieved June 7, 2015.
  9. ^ "Wells Street Bridge Officially Reopens". NBC Chicago. November 21, 2015. Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved June 7, 2015.
  10. ^ "A Historic Look at the Changing Leaves on the Wells Street Bridge". Chicago Architecture Blog. 26 April 2013. Archived from the original on 1 May 2013. Retrieved April 26, 2013.
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