N Franklin-Orleans St Bridge, Chicago, IL (1)

The N. Franklin St. bridge - Main Branch Chicago River.

Videos: Site Video / YouTube Video / Narrated YouTube Tour

Quick Facts for North Franklin St. Bridge

Date Opened: October 23, 1920
Designers: Thomas G. Pihlfeldt, Hugh E. Young, John Ericson, Edward Bennett
Classification: Single Deck; Pony Trusses
Group Age Ranking: 6th Oldest
Clear Span: 220 feet (3rd longest – tied w/ North Michigan; North La Salle; and North Lake Shore)
Trunnion-to-Trunnion Span: 252 feet (5th longest)
Width: 62 feet (11th widest)
Leaf Weight: 1,800 tons
Height above the Water: 18 feet
Average Daily Foot Traffic (1999): 6,594 (12th most)
Average Daily Vehicular Traffic (2006): 17,000 (4th most)
Annual Lifts (2006): 36
Last Rebuild: 2002
Cultural: Movies - Straight Talk (1992), Shall We Dance (2004), Batman Begins (2005)

Drawings:

1916 Bridge Tender House Elevation Drawing

1916 Equipment Elevation Drawing

The current bridge is the first river crossing connecting North Franklin Street on the south shore with North Orleans Street on the north shore of the main branch of the Chicago River. The primary purpose of this bridge was to help alleviate heavy traffic on the West Lake and North Wells street bridges. (Today it carries 17,000 vehicles per day, 4th highest in the group.)

The pony trusses on this bridge are the first to achieve graceful rounded lines over the entire span, especially when compared to the trusses used on the Washington Street and Monroe Street bridges.

The bridge tender houses are on the NW and SE corners of the bridge.

Looking south along the N. Franklin St. bridge sidewalk.

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