Chasing Chicago's movable bridges (2014)

codechicago277•about 2 hours ago

Surprised the article doesn’t mention the McCormick Bridgehouse Museum. It’s something like $5, and you can see the inside of one of those bridges.

https://maps.app.goo.gl/eUXWfkm8LVuYMDsc7

bs7280•6 minutes ago

You can go on bridge lift days during the fall + spring and see inside the engine room while the bridge goes up.

nkrisc•about 2 hours ago

Great photos, many angles and views I haven’t seen myself. I used to have a desk in a corner overlooking the Congress expressway bridge (looking Southeast) and it was always fun to watch them halt traffic to open that one. I loved riding through the post office and over that bridge as a kid, usually on the way to the MSI.

I had a friend with a sailboat when I was young and though I did go sailing with his family sometimes, I wish I had the chance to ride with them while taking it past the bridges.

Another cool bridge to see is the disused rail bridge at the Northern tip of Goose Island. You can see it easily from North Ave. I passed by quite often as a kid and seeing the giant, concrete counterweight suspended up in the air always made me kind of nervous it would crash down as we were passing by.

gwbas1c•about 1 hour ago

I'm curious why the sailboats need to enter and leave once a year? Is it that they are drydocked over the winter?

davidjfelix•about 1 hour ago

yes - the lake freezes.

I should also clarify. The sailboats in particular need the bridges raised which is why they have a scheduled time to exit. Ordinary boats can be removed closer to the water or navigate the river without the bridge being raised. Those boats are also removed for the winter.

nkrisc•44 minutes ago

Yes. The lake and river will typically freeze over for most of the winter. Any boat in the water would be smashed to bits by wind-blown ice.

Chasing Chicago's movable bridges (2014)

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