Why did Chicago demolish the Halsted Street North Branch Canal Bridge? Chicago has historically valued its bridges. However, the Halsted Street North Branch Canal Bridge met the wrecking ball.
Let’s talk about this former landmark. The Halsted Street North Branch Canal Bridge was not just any bridge. It represented a significant piece of Chicago’s engineering history.
Completed in 1908 the Halsted Street North Branch Canal Bridge exemplified the Chicago trunnion bascule design. This design became influential nationwide. City Engineer John E. Ericson spearheaded the project. Chicago’s engineering team often led bridge designs. This sometimes bothered bridge companies.
The Halsted Street North Branch Canal Bridge substructure cost about $88,742. The superstructure cost about $159,240. The total cost was $247,982. Each leaf had two 40 horsepower electric motors.
The Jules E. Roemheld Company built the Halsted Street North Branch Canal Bridge superstructure. The Fitzsimons and Connell Company constructed the substructure.
Interestingly, the Historic American Engineering Record noted a lack of aesthetic concern when built. But tastes change. Its complex geometric art is now appreciated. The curved shapes and intricate truss configurations stand out. The knee braces even featured circle designs. Carnegie Steel marks were found showing the steel’s origin.
However, Chicago chose to demolish the Halsted Street North Branch Canal Bridge. The city replaced it with an ultra-modern bridge. The new bridge lacks heritage value. It contrasts sharply with Chicago’s historic atmosphere. Heritage tourism suffers when such structures are lost. A better approach would have been to reincorporate original materials.
Before this bridge, a hand-turned iron bridge stood here. Fox and Howard built it in 1874. It measured 228 feet long and 32 feet wide.
Ogden Avenue used to cross Goose Island. It used two bascule bridges. This viaduct crossed the canal west of the Halsted Street North Branch Canal Bridge. It passed over Halsted Street. The demolition of the Art Deco Ogden Viaduct also marked a loss.
Chicago once had a strong commitment to preserving historic movable bridges. But demolishing bridges like the Halsted Street North Branch Canal Bridge threatens this legacy.