Clark Street Bridge
Bridge in Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Clark Street Bridge is a bascule bridge that spans the Chicago River in downtown Chicago, connecting the Near North Side with The Loop via Clark Street.[1]
Clark Street Bridge | |
|---|---|
The bridge in 2023 | |
| Coordinates | 41.8875°N 87.6310°W |
| Carries | Vehicles, pedestrians on Clark Street |
| Crosses | Chicago River |
| Locale | Chicago |
| Characteristics | |
| Total length | 346 feet (105 m)[1] |
| Width | 215 feet (66 m)[2] |
| Longest span | 215 feet (66 m)[2] |
| Clearance below | 20 feet (6 m)[1] |
| History | |
| Construction end | 1929 |
| Opened | 1929 |
| Location | |
 Interactive map of Clark Street Bridge | |
History
The current bridge, which was completed in 1929,[2] is the eighth bridge to span the river at this point.[3] 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, 1853.[4] In 1854, the city approved an expenditure of $12,000 to replace the bridge with a pivot bridge.[5] During the Lager Beer Riot in 1855, the bridge was pivoted to help contain the rioters.[6]
On June 26, 1907, the steamer Atlas collided with the south abutment of the bridge and sank. She was declared a total loss.[7]
The passenger ship SS Eastland was scheduled to sail from the dock at the Clark Street Bridge when she capsized on July 24, 1915, killing 844 people.[8]
In March 2012, an unidentified man jumped from the bridge and was rescued by local high school students on a field trip. He later died of hypothermia.[citation needed]
In popular culture
- In 1916, Carl Sandburg wrote the poem "Clark Street Bridge."[9]
- The opening (dream) sequence of the Chicago-based TV show The Bear takes place on the Clark Street Bridge.[10]
