Strauss Bascule Bridge Co.

of Chicago, Illinois
View Exhibit map

Joseph Baermann Strauss was a bridge engineer who developed patented designs for trunnion bascule bridges, particularly the variant called the "heel trunnion" and thereafter specialized in the design of trunnion bascule bridges in general. When he undertook the design of the Golden Gate Bridge, he was somewhat out of his comfort zone. Although credit is often given solely to Strauss for designing the Golden Gate Bridge, he actually hired Charles Alton Ellis to do nearly all the engineering for the bridge, and simply took credit for the work that Ellis did. Strauss operated the Strauss Bascule Bridge Company of Chicago, Illinois

Belleville Turnpike Bridge (Essex County, New Jersey)
Built 1914
Lost through truss bascule bridge over Passaic River on NJ 7 in Belleville/North Arlington/Kearny
No longer exists

Cass Street Bridge (Hillsborough County, Florida)
Built 1926
Bascule bridge over Hillsborough River on Cass Street in Tampa
Open to traffic

Chambers Bay Railroad Bridge (Pierce County, Washington)
Built 1914
Vertical lift bridge over Chambers Bay on BNSF Railroad
Open to traffic

Chelsea Street Bridge (Suffolk County, Massachusetts)
renamed to Strauss and Paine, 1936
Bascule bridge over Chelsea River on Chelsea Street in Boston
Replaced by a new bridge

Darby Creek Railroad Bridge (Delaware County, Pennsylvania)
Pony/through plate girder bridge over Darby Creek on Railroad (Conrail)
Open to traffic

Elgin-Belvidere Railroad Bridge (Boone County, Illinois)
Built 1905
Abandoned ribbed closed-spandrel arch bridge over Kishwaukee River on abandonded Elgin-Belvidere Railroad
Abandoned. Derelict crumbling/overgrown

Fourth Street Bridge (San Francisco County, California)
Design Firm, 1916
Warren truss Bascule bridge over China Basin on Fourth Street in San Francisco
Open to traffic

Groton Bridge (New London County, Connecticut)
Design, 1919
Vertical-lift through truss bridge over Thames River on Northeast Corridor (Amtrak)
Open to traffic

Hackensack River Railroad Bridge (Bergen County, New Jersey)
Built 1911
Warren through truss bascule bridge over Hackensack River on Railroad (NJ Transit Bergen County Line)
Open to traffic

HB&T Railway Bascule Bridge (Harris County, Texas)
Design, 1912.
Abandoned through truss bridge over Buffalo Bayou on Railroad
Abandoned

Henry Ford Bridge (Los Angeles County, California)
Design Engineer, 1924
Bridge over Cerritos Channel on Los Angles Harbor Belt Railway
Demolished and replaced.

Hoquiam River Bridge (Grays Harbor County, Washington)
Consulting Firm, 1928
Bascule bridge over Hoquiam River on US 101 in Hoquiam
Open to traffic

Jackson Blvd. Bridge (Cook County, Illinois)
Built 1916
Bascule bridge over South Branch Chicago River on Jackson Blvd. (original Rte 66)in Chicago
Open to traffic

Kinzie Street C&NW Railway Bridge (Cook County, Illinois)
Built 1908
Warren through truss bridge over North Branch Chicago River on Union Pacific Railroad (Formerly C&NW)
Closed to all traffic

Main Street Bridge (Old) (Brown County, Wisconsin)
Built 1923
Lost Bascule Bridge over Fox River on US 141 in Green Bay
Replaced by new bridge

Matthiessen Park Footbridge (La Salle County, Illinois)
Built 1905
Ribbed closed-spandrel arch bridge over Deer Creek Gorge on Pedestrian Walkway
Open to pedestrians

Military Street Bascule Bridge (St. Clair County, Michigan)
Built 1913
Lost Bascule Bridge over Black River on I-94/I-69 Business Loop in Port Huron
Replaced by new bridge

PE San Pedro River Bascule Bridge (Los Angeles County, California)
Built 1912
Lost Through truss bridge over West Basin on Railroad
Removed

Plaquemine Railroad Bridge (Iberville Parish, Louisiana)
Built 1921
Through truss bridge over Bayou Plaquimine on LA1
Open to traffic

Platt Street Bridge (Hillsborough County, Florida)
Built 1926
Bascule bridge over Hillsborough River on Platt Street in Tampa
Open to traffic

Rockport Bascule Railroad Bridge (Muhlenberg County, Kentucky)
Built 1931
Through truss bridge over Green River on Paducah & Louisville Railway
Open to traffic

Saugus River Railroad Bridge (Essex County, Massachusetts)
Design, 1911
Plate girder bascule bridge over Saugus River on the MBTA Railroad
Unknown status

South First Street Bridge (Union County, New Jersey)
Built 1908
Bascule bridge over Elizabeth River on South First Street in Elizabeth
Open to traffic

South Front Street Bridge (Union County, New Jersey)
Built 1922
Bascule bridge over Elizabeth River on South Front Street in Elizabeth
Open to traffic

St. Charles Air Line Bridge (Cook County, Illinois)
Built 1919
Railroad bascule bridge over the Chicago River near downtown Chicago
Open to traffic

Wishkah River Bridge (Grays Harbor County, Washington)
Bascule Design Firm, 1925
Bascule bridge over Wishkah River on US 12 in Aberdeen
Open to traffic