Grand Avenue Bridge
One of the oldest bridges crossing the Chicago River is the Grand Avenue Bridge, just around the corner from Snob Hounds. Built in 1913, this bascule bridge is a bit clunkier than some of its younger siblings but is still just as useful and admirable. (A bascule bridge is the movable type of drawbridge which people are probably most familiar with, in which a counterweight balances the span of the bridge, allowing it to swing upward at an angle. An animated example can be found here.) It is about 270 feet (82 m) long but only 190 feet (58 m) are actually over the River itself. And at 36 feet (11 m) wide, this classic carries over 9,500 cars and trucks a day.
Photo credit: Wikimedia, Ruthieki (c/o Flickr), Historic Bridges
Grand Avenue Bridge: 500 W Grand Ave
Public trans: Bus # 8, 65 or Blue Line train (Grand)
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