Franklin Street Bridge

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Franklin Street Bridge
Official name	Franklin Street Bridge
Carries	Automobiles, Pedestrians
Crosses	Chicago River
Locale	Chicago, Cook County, Illinois
Design	Great Lakes Dredge and Dock Company, Ketler-Elliot Company
Longest span	220 feet
Total length	320 feet
Width	62 feet
Clearance below	18.7 feet
Opening date	1919
Coordinates	41°53′14″N, 87°38′9″W

The Franklin Street Bridge over the Chicago River was built in 1919, directly southwest of the Merchandise Mart. Connecting the Near North Side with "The Loop," is at the junction of the branches of the river, lying directly west of the Wells Street Bridge. It carries four lanes of traffic in the north-bound direction, and sidewalks are available on both sides of the bridge.

Great Lakes Dredge and Dock Company was the contractor for the substructure, and the Ketler-Elliot Company was the contractor for the superstructure. Original electrical equipment was installed by C.H. Norwood. The bridge is an example of a trunnion bascule bridge, with each half of the roadway is cantilevered out from shore abutments. The bridge is extremely efficient to operation.

The bridge provided a new connection to the southern banks of the river and aided in westward expansion along Wacker Drive.

[edit] In popular culture

• The bridge was featured prominently in the 2005 film Batman Begins as the bridge that connects Gotham City with the Narrows.

[edit] External links

• Survey number HAER IL-65 - Chicago River Bascule Bridge, Franklin Street, Spanning Chicago River at North Franklin Street, Chicago, Cook County, IL

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