Crosses Chicago River Width 215 feet (66 m) Construction end 1929 Total length 106 m Location Chicago | Locale Chicago Longest span 215 feet (66 m) Opened 1929 Clearance below 6.1 m Body of water Chicago River | |
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Carries Vehicles, pedestrians on Clark Street Bridge type Swing bridge, Bascule bridge Similar Holy Family Catholic, Wells Street Bridge, Dearborn Street Bridge, Franklin Street Bridge, Robinson Woods‑South | ||
Clark street bridge looking back
The Clark Street Bridge is a bascule bridge that spans the Chicago River in downtown Chicago, connecting the Near North Side with The Loop.
Contents
Clark street bridge pretty woman
History
The current bridge, which was completed in 1929, is the eighth bridge to span the river at this point. In 1853 the bridge was struck by a steamer, called the London, and collapsed, blocking traffic on the river. The bridge was dredged and river traffic resumed on September 8. In 1854, the city approved an expenditure of $12,000 to replace the bridge with a pivot bridge. During the Lager Beer Riot in 1855, the bridge was pivoted to help contain the rioters.
The Eastland was supposed to sail from the dock at the Clark Street Bridge on July 24, 1915 when it capsized.
In March of 2012, an unidentified man jumped from the bridge and was rescued by a local high school on a field trip. He would later die of hypothermia.
In popular culture
In 1916, Carl Sandburg wrote the poem "Clark Street Bridge."