Bet you did not know that the Ewing Avenue Bridge is more than just a way to cross the Calumet River. It is a testament to Chicago’s engineering prowess. This bridge stands as the oldest highway bascule bridge on the Calumet River.
Let’s dive into the story of the Ewing Avenue Bridge. It was completed in 1914. Before this bascule bridge, a hand-operated swing bridge stood here in the 1890s. Imagine the backbreaking work of operating it.
One man, William Mooney, rang a bell to warn traffic. Then he walked to the center of the bridge. He inserted a sixteen-foot lever into a rolling cog. Mooney walked twenty laps to swing the bridge open. After the vessel passed, he walked twenty more laps to close it. This totaled about 0.43 miles for a single opening. Mooney walked about 806 miles a month. He earned about $0.17 per mile.
In 1913, a crowd enjoying drinks rode the bridge as it swung. Mooney, tired of providing “horse power,” called the police. “I’m no truck horse and my bridge is no merry-go-round,” he said. With the opening of the new Ewing Avenue Bridge in 1914, the hand-operated bridge era ended. Street cars began crossing on June 27th. Automobile traffic followed on August 11th.
The Ewing Avenue Bridge is a double-leaf bascule bridge. Its main span is 69.49 meters. Its total length measures 102.96 meters. The bridge used a counterweight of mostly concrete. This was different from earlier bridges. They used cast and pig iron. Two 75 h.p. electric motors powered the bridge. With a 200-foot clear span, it was the longest bascule bridge built by the city at that time.
Back then, this bridge was the main route to Chicago from eastern states. A temporary bridge served traffic during construction. The temporary bridge was the old swing bridge superstructure. It was moved onto a temporary substructure nearby.
Look closely. You might spot the Cambria steel name imprinted on the bridge. It reveals that Cambria steel mills fabricated some of the steel. The bridge tender houses are simple. They lack the grand designs of later bridges.
Carter H. Harrison was mayor when the bridge was built. L. E. McGann was Commissioner of Public Works. The Ketler-Elliott Erection Co. built the superstructure. Byrne Bros. constructed the substructure.
The Ewing Avenue Bridge continues to carry a large volume of traffic. It stands as a reminder of Chicago’s engineering history. It shows how far bridge design has come. Next time you cross, remember the story. Remember William Mooney and his long walks.