General View Of Bridge, Looking South
Photo taken by Historic American Engineering Record
View photos at Library of Congress
BH Photo #118252
I believe it is still operable, though it is only rarely actually raised. The warning lights and closing gates appear to still be in good condition. If you needed it to be raised for a boat, you would likely need to make special arrangements, but it might still be possible.
The Kinzie Street bridge is one of the lowest to the water, so it still might need to be raised for a boat that could fit under the other bridges, including the higher Chicago Avenue Bridge which has been replaced by a fixed bridge.
It's adjacent to the CNW - Kinzie Street Bridge, which is stored in the raised position, and lowered once a year for maintenance by the UP RR.
All of the moveable bridges on the North Branch Chicago River are endangered by the loss of heavy industry along the waterway. It is becoming only a recreational waterway.
I'm not finding anything to suggest it still does.
Nathan Holth... This is a question you could likely answer.
Does this bridge still operate?
Hats off to google maps for putting street view on the river!Should do it everywhere!
Nice piece about this bridge this morning on WBEZ (NPR Chicago), focusing on the bridgetender's house, and its role in the Great Chicago Flood of 1992, which happened 25 years ago today. Audio story includes interesting history of the bridge, including its origin as a pathway between two taverns, the time a taxicab flew off it into the river while it was being lifted, and of course the Great Chicago Flood in 1992 which was caused by pilings driven to protect the bridge from errant barges. Some nice photos.
https://www.wbez.org/shows/morning-shift/whats-that-building...
I found my answer. According to http://chicagoloopbridges.com/bridges12/NB16/NB-Bridges.html this bridge as well as grand ave, Ohio ave, Halsted st, and formerly Chicago ave are still kept operable