N Michigan Ave Bridge, Chicago, IL (1)

The N. Michigan Avenue bridge turned 90 on May 14, 2010.

Looking west towards the N. Michigan Ave. bridge - Main Branch Chicago River.

Videos: Site Video / YouTube Video / Narrated Tour on YouTube / View from the Lower Deck

Quick Facts for North Michigan Ave. Bridge

Date Opened: May 14, 1920
Designers: Thomas G. Pihlfeldt, Hugh E. Young, Edward Bennett
Classification: Double Deck (Auto/Auto); Deck Trusses
Group Age Ranking: 5th Oldest
Clear Span: 220 feet (3rd longest – tied w/ North Franklin-Orleans; North La Salle; North Lake Shore)
Trunnion-to-Trunnion Span: 256 feet (4th longest)
Width: 92 feet (3rd widest)
Leaf Weight: 4,100 tons
Height above the Water: 17 feet
Average Daily Foot Traffic (1999): 35,909 (2nd most)
Average Daily Vehicular Traffic (2006): 33,300 (2nd most)
Annual Lifts (2006): 58
Last Rehabilitation: 1993
Cultural: Movies - The Untouchables (1986), Chain Reaction (1996), Mercury Rising (1997), Since You've Been Gone (1998), Three to Tango (1999), Just Visiting (2001), Unconditional Love (2001), The Break Up (2005), Lake House (2006), Diminished Capacity (2008), ER (1994-2009), Prison Break (2005-2009)

Drawings:

Bridge Tender House Elevation Drawing (1918)

Original Railing Detail (1918) and Current photograph

General Elevation Drawings (1918)

General Equipment Elevation Drawing (1918)

The North Michigan Avenue Bridge is considered by many to be the most spectacular of the 18 bridges. It has 4 ornate bridge tender houses. Each double-deck leaf is supported by 4 deck trusses. As shown in the photo below, it is essentially two bridges built side-by-side to allow one side to be open without blocking North Michigan Avenue off completely.

Under the N. Michigan Ave. bridge as it opens.

The bas relief sculptures on the south bridge tender houses commemorate the Fort Dearborn Massacre of 1812 and the rebuilding of the city after the Great Fire of 1871. The bas relief sculptures on the north side bridge tender houses commemorate French explorers Marquette and Joliet; and early settlers Kinzie and DuSable.

In 2006, the SW bridge tender house became home to the McCormick Bridgehouse Museum. Displays of the history of the Chicago River, as well as the ability to see the operating machinery of the bridge, and to access to all levels of the bridge tender house make this museum a must see for both the bridge enthusiast and the river enthusiast.

The McCormick Bridgehouse Museum at the N. Michigan Ave. Bridge.

One of the more dramatic events at the bridge was a car chase in 1922. A safe cracker named Vincent “Skimmer” Drucci was being pursued by detectives Tuohy and Klatzco. The chase eventually came to the north approach of the Michigan Avenue Bridge which was beginning to open for a passing steamer. Drucci drove through the gates and was able to jump the four foot gap between the bridge leaves and make it safely to the south side of the river only to get caught in traffic. Touy and Klatzco followed and made the dramatic jump as well capturing Drucci as he tried to flee on foot.

The most spectacular accident involving this bridge occurred on September 20, 1992. Construction work was underway to rehabilitate the bridge. The bridge deck had been removed on the southeast leaf and a 40 ton capacity crane had been parked over the counterweight. The north side leaves had just been raised to allow a sailboat to pass. As the northwest leaf was lowered into position, the southeast leaf of the bridge sprang up, catapult-like.

A sailboat owner was quoted in the September 24, 1992 Chicago Tribune saying, “The northwest section was already down or in the final stages of going down when we heard this grinding sound and saw the thing (the southeast leaf) swing to straight up and down. It took five seconds. It was going pretty fast.” Equipment and debris was launched across East Wacker Drive into buses, cars, and pedestrians. Six people on a CTA base were the only injuries noted in the reports of the incident. The rapid rotation ripped the bridge leaf from its trunnion bearings and the leaf dropped into the tail pit.

The cause of the accident was a combination of a severely unbalanced bridge leaf and partially disengaged safety locks. This condition allowed the rack and pinion to un-mesh, which allowed the leaf to rise uncontrollably. The bridge was reopened to traffic on November 25, 1992.

The Chicago Blackhawks won the Stanley Cup in June 2010. The victory parade ended at the south end of the Michigan Ave bridge where the rally was held. The top floor of the McCormick Bridgehouse Museum was an excellent venue to capture the festivities. The photo below was taken as the team neared the end of the parade.

Looking south from the top floor of the Bridgehouse museum on 6/11/2010 -- Congratulations Blackhawks!

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