Picture, for a moment, a street that has reinvented itself more than once: South Wells Street. It is a major north-south street in Chicago. Officially, it is designated as 200 West. South Wells Street got its name from William Wells. He was a United States Army Captain who died in the Battle of Fort Dearborn.
Wells Street was once known as 5th Avenue. This name change occurred between 1870 and 1912. The city wanted to protect the Wells name. At that time, the street had a bad reputation.
Today, some downtown blocks of South Wells Street sit beneath the Chicago ‘L’ train system. The elevated tracks run above Wells Street. They then shift west at Hubbard Street.
Wells Street has a varied route. It starts as a frontage road for I-90/I-94. This section carries southbound traffic. It runs from 63rd Street to 65th Street. Another section runs from 47th Street to 59th Street. Wells Street then becomes a residential street on the South Side. There are gaps in this section. Wentworth Gardens and Rate Field occupy some of these gaps. I-55 also occupies a gap.
Wells Street reappears below Roosevelt Road. Here, it’s near the British International School of Chicago, South Loop, and LaSalle Street Station. River City and the former Grand Central Station are nearby. Between Ida B. Wells Drive and Erie Street, Wells Street is southbound only.
The Wells Street Bridge crosses the Chicago River. North of the river, South Wells Street is next to Merchandise Mart. A bike counter was installed at Chicago Avenue in December 2022.
South Wells Street is close to the Moody Bible Institute. Walter Payton College Preparatory High School is also nearby. In Old Town, Wells Street has retail shops, bars, and restaurants. Wells Street ends at Lincoln Avenue, west of Clark Street.
The Wells Street Bridge is a key feature. It’s a double-deck bascule bridge. The bridge connects the Near North Side and The Loop. The lower deck carries three lanes of southbound traffic. Sidewalks are on both sides. The upper deck carries the CTA’s Brown and Purple lines. Bridge tender houses are on the northwest and southeast corners. The bridge was rebuilt in 2012-2013. The leaves were built off-site and floated into place.
Transportation is readily available on South Wells Street. The Loop Elevated runs above it. Several CTA bus routes serve Wells Street. These include routes 36, 37, 125, 15, 51, 59, 24 and 65.
There is also the Wells Street Tower. Built in 2002, this high-rise condo building is in the South Loop. Its tilted roof points towards downtown Chicago. Residents enjoy city skyline views from private balconies. The units range from one to three bedrooms. They feature tall ceilings and gas fireplaces. The tower has a business center, conference room, and library. There is also a sundeck. Plus, it is pet-friendly.
Wells Street Station was once a passenger terminal here. It served the Chicago and North Western Railway. It was replaced in 1911 by the Chicago and North Western Terminal. The Merchandise Mart opened in 1930 on the old station site.
In 1976, Time Magazine mentioned Wells Street in an article. The article was titled “The Porno Plague.”
South Wells Street has seen many changes. It has transformed from a street with a questionable reputation to a vital part of Chicago. It’s a street with transportation, residences, and history.