Bataan-Corregidor Memorial Bridge

Did the Bataan-Corregidor Memorial Bridge always stand here, a steel sentinel over the Chicago River? No. Bridges have spanned this section of the river at State Street for over 150 years. The Bataan-Corregidor Memorial Bridge, as it’s officially known, represents nearly half of that history. It stands as a testament to engineering and a poignant memorial to wartime heroism. Opened on May 28, 1949, the Bataan-Corregidor Memorial Bridge replaced a Scherzer rolling lift bridge. This current structure, a Chicago-type trunnion bascule bridge, is one of the last downtown bridges with ornate Art Deco bridgehouses. Its six lanes make it the second widest bridge downtown. The deck is supported by three “rail height” trusses. This innovative design, developed by Chicago engineers in 1922, minimizes the steel visible above the deck, creating a streamlined appearance. The Bataan-Corregidor Memorial Bridge honors the Chicagoans who endured and perished as POWs after the fall of Corregidor in WWII. The City Council’s resolution naming the bridge emphasized its permanence and the millions who would use it. They dedicated it to “those residents surrendered to the enemy on May 7, 1942, at Corregidor in the Philippine Islands.” The bridge was rededicated in 1998. A plaque was added to honor all Filipino and American veterans who fought together in that battle. Look closely at the northwest bridgehouse. You’ll find a plaque commemorating the 1862 voyage of the Norwegian vessel Sleipner. This ship was the first to sail from Europe to Chicago through the St. Lawrence Seaway, carrying immigrants and a cargo of salted fish. Originally, funding for the Bataan-Corregidor Memorial Bridge came from a $3.5 million bond issue in 1930. However, construction was delayed due to the concurrent State Street subway tunnel project (now the Red Line). Work finally began in 1939. Subsurface work was complete by 1942. But wartime steel shortages halted progress until 1947. The Bataan-Corregidor Memorial Bridge isn’t just a crossing; it’s a symbol of resilience, a memorial to sacrifice, and a testament to Chicago’s engineering prowess. It even earned an “Honorable Mention” in the 1949 American Institute of Steel Construction bridge award competition for its beauty.