Cherry Avenue Bridge
Encyclopedia
The Cherry Avenue Bridge (North Avenue railroad bridge, or Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railway, Bridge No. Z-2) is an asymmetric bob-tail swing bridge
in Chicago
, Illinois
that carries the Chicago Terminal Railroad
, pedestrians, and cyclists across the North Branch Canal of the Chicago River
. It was constructed in 1901–02 by the Chicago, Milwaukee and St. Paul Railway, and it is a rare example of this type of bridge; it was designated a Chicago Landmark on December 12, 2007.
, an industrial area in the Near North Side
community area
of Chicago. The railroad track across the bridge is a spur line of the Chicago Terminal Railroad
, that branches off from the route of the Union Pacific mainline about 0.5 mile (0.80467 km) north-west of the bridge. The railroad continues for about 0.5 mile (0.80467 km) south on Goose Island. North Avenue (Illinois Route 64
) runs east-west at the north end of the bridge, crossing the North Avenue Bridge
over the north branch of the Chicago River about 300 feet (91.4 m) to the west.
to Byron, Illinois
. This company was absorbed into the Chicago, Milwaukee and St. Paul Railway in 1880. The Cherry Avenue bridge was constructed in 1901–02 by the Chicago, Milwaukee and St. Paul to replace a 20 year-old bridge on the same location. It spans the North Branch Canal of the Chicago River providing the only railroad access to Goose Island.
Railroad operation on Goose Island was taken over by the Soo Line Railroad
in 1986, and then by the Chicago Terminal Railroad
in January 2007. The bridge was purchased by the City of Chicago in 2008, and restored in 2008–09 adding new decking and lights to enable safe pedestrian access.
Swing bridge
A swing bridge is a movable bridge that has as its primary structural support a vertical locating pin and support ring, usually at or near to its centre of gravity, about which the turning span can then pivot horizontally as shown in the animated illustration to the right...
in Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
, Illinois
Illinois
Illinois is the fifth-most populous state of the United States of America, and is often noted for being a microcosm of the entire country. With Chicago in the northeast, small industrial cities and great agricultural productivity in central and northern Illinois, and natural resources like coal,...
that carries the Chicago Terminal Railroad
Chicago Terminal Railroad
The Chicago Terminal Railroad is a switching and terminal railroad operating over former Milwaukee Road/Canadian Pacific and Chicago and North Western/Union Pacific trackage in northern Illinois. The railroad began its operations on January 2, 2007...
, pedestrians, and cyclists across the North Branch Canal of the Chicago River
Chicago River
The Chicago River is a system of rivers and canals with a combined length of that runs through the city of the same name, including its center . Though not especially long, the river is notable for being the reason why Chicago became an important location, as the link between the Great Lakes and...
. It was constructed in 1901–02 by the Chicago, Milwaukee and St. Paul Railway, and it is a rare example of this type of bridge; it was designated a Chicago Landmark on December 12, 2007.
Location
Cherry Avenue bridge is located at 41°54′37.1"N 87°39′19.9"W; it runs in an north-south orientation, spanning the North Branch Canal of the Chicago River to provide railroad access to Goose IslandGoose Island (Chicago)
Goose Island is the only island on the Chicago River in Illinois. It is an artificial island, formed by the North Branch of the Chicago River on the west and the North Branch Canal on the east...
, an industrial area in the Near North Side
Near North Side, Chicago
The Near North Side is one of 77 well-defined community areas of Chicago, Illinois, United States. It is located north and east of the Chicago River, just north of the central business district . To its east is Lake Michigan and its northern boundary is the 19th-century city limit of Chicago,...
community area
Community areas of Chicago
Community areas in Chicago refers to the work of the Social Science Research Committee at University of Chicago which has unofficially divided the City of Chicago into 77 community areas. These areas are well-defined and static...
of Chicago. The railroad track across the bridge is a spur line of the Chicago Terminal Railroad
Chicago Terminal Railroad
The Chicago Terminal Railroad is a switching and terminal railroad operating over former Milwaukee Road/Canadian Pacific and Chicago and North Western/Union Pacific trackage in northern Illinois. The railroad began its operations on January 2, 2007...
, that branches off from the route of the Union Pacific mainline about 0.5 mile (0.80467 km) north-west of the bridge. The railroad continues for about 0.5 mile (0.80467 km) south on Goose Island. North Avenue (Illinois Route 64
Illinois Route 64
Illinois Route 64 is an east–west road in north-central Illinois. Its western terminus is at the Iowa state line, connecting with U.S. Route 52 and Iowa Highway 64 via the Savanna-Sabula Bridge at the Mississippi River west of Savanna...
) runs east-west at the north end of the bridge, crossing the North Avenue Bridge
North Avenue Bridge
The North Avenue Bridge can refer to one of three bridges that has carried North Avenue over the North Branch of the Chicago River on the north side of Chicago, Illinois...
over the north branch of the Chicago River about 300 feet (91.4 m) to the west.
History
Goose Island is a man-made island on the north branch of the Chicago River that was formed in the 1850s by the digging of the North Branch Canal. In 1871 the Chicago and Pacific Railroad started construction of a railroad from Goose Island through Elgin, IllinoisElgin, Illinois
Elgin is a city in northern Illinois located roughly northwest of Chicago on the Fox River. Most of Elgin lies within Kane County, Illinois, with a portion in Cook County, Illinois...
to Byron, Illinois
Byron, Illinois
Byron is a city in Ogle County, Illinois, United States, probably best known as the location of the Byron Nuclear Generating Station, one of the last nuclear power plants commissioned in the United States. Byron is located in Byron Township, along the Rock River. The population was 3,753 at the...
. This company was absorbed into the Chicago, Milwaukee and St. Paul Railway in 1880. The Cherry Avenue bridge was constructed in 1901–02 by the Chicago, Milwaukee and St. Paul to replace a 20 year-old bridge on the same location. It spans the North Branch Canal of the Chicago River providing the only railroad access to Goose Island.
Soo Line Railroad
The Soo Line Railroad is the primary United States railroad subsidiary of the Canadian Pacific Railway , controlled through the Soo Line Corporation, and one of seven U.S. Class I railroads. Although it is named for the Minneapolis, St. Paul and Sault Ste...
in 1986, and then by the Chicago Terminal Railroad
Chicago Terminal Railroad
The Chicago Terminal Railroad is a switching and terminal railroad operating over former Milwaukee Road/Canadian Pacific and Chicago and North Western/Union Pacific trackage in northern Illinois. The railroad began its operations on January 2, 2007...
in January 2007. The bridge was purchased by the City of Chicago in 2008, and restored in 2008–09 adding new decking and lights to enable safe pedestrian access.