North of the Loop
A short ride north on the CTA's Red Line from the Loop can give you an interesting contrast between the old and the new in Chicago's bridges. Get off at the North / Clyborn stop (CTA Trip Planner). Walk west about 0.4 mile on North Avenue to the North Branch of the Chicago River.
The bridge carrying North Avenue across the river is a 2008 bridge. The steel truss bridge crossing to the south to Goose Island, is a 1902 bridge.
While neither bridge is moveable, the location brackets an element of Chicago bridge history in one location.
The cable stayed bridge (opened in 2008) carrying North Ave. over the North Branch of the Chicago River. General information about this bridge and the crossing history can be found at this Wikipedia entry.
The bob-tail swing bridge (opened in 1902) connecting North Ave. to Goose Island. This bridge was restored in 2009. While the bridge is no longer operable, it is easy to view, up close, the key components of the bridge (like the turn-table in the photo above). More information can be found at historic bridges. A photo of the plaque is shown below.
