“Say, isn’t that the bridge they replaced with those big, clunky bolts?” a curious voice might ask. Right here, at the Cermak Road Bridge, you’re looking at a piece of Chicago engineering history. It’s a survivor. This bridge, you see, is a rare breed in these parts – a Scherzer rolling lift bridge. Opened in 1906, the Cermak Road Bridge wasn’t always a city favorite. You see, Chicago loved its trunnion bascule bridges, the kind that swung up like a seesaw.
Those were their babies, designed right here in the city. But this rolling lift bridge, it was a different beast altogether. Designed by the Scherzer Rolling Lift Bridge Company, this type of bridge wasn’t as popular with the city. This was mainly due to the fact that rolling lift bridges shifted their weight onto the abutments, which wasn’t ideal for Chicago’s finicky soil.
Over time, that could really wear down a bridge. The Cermak Road Bridge, however, has weathered the storms. It’s seen replacements, renovations, and still it stands. It’s a testament to the ingenuity of those bridge builders back in the day, and the city’s dedication to preserving its history.