Hilliard Bridge
Description
3 span through truss with cantilevered center span, pedestrian walkways on each side outside of truss, named after the city's mayor at the time because of his effort in getting it built--HILLIARD Cantilever span lowered to barge then moved to shore and cut into pieces, remaining truss spans removed with explosivesFacts
- Overview
- Lost through truss bridge over Illinois River on IL 23/IL 71 at Ottawa
- Location
- Ottawa, LaSalle County, Illinois
- Status
- Replaced by new bridge
- History
- Built 1932, replaced 1982
- Design
- Through truss with cantilever span
- Dimensions
-
Length of largest span: 500.0 ft.
Total length: 1,075.8 ft.
Deck width: 24.0 ft.
Vertical clearance above deck: 15.0 ft.
- Approximate latitude, longitude
- +41.34185, -88.84133 (decimal degrees)
41°20'31" N, 88°50'29" W (degrees°minutes'seconds") - Approximate UTM coordinates
- 16/345940/4578342 (zone/easting/northing)
- Quadrangle map:
- Ottawa
- Inventory numbers
- 050-0032
replaced by 050-0180
BH 51456 (Bridgehunter.com ID)
Update Log
- February 4, 2015: Updated by Gene Smania: photos ca 1972, plan sheet, bridge description sheet
- March 27, 2012: New photo from Mike Roegner
- March 3, 2012: New photos from Gene Smania
- February 26, 2012: Added by Gene Smania
Related Bridges
- Ottawa Bridge (Predecessor)
Comments
There were natural springs on the south bank in the old days--Sanicula Springs was the name I think. When I was a kid there was an eat shop/ice cream place there until they built the new bridge. The park is still there on the south side with a couple of boat launch areas, tennis courts, sledding hills, walking path, etc. A local artist created two metal sculptures from truss members of the old bridge and they are also in the park. The city has created a river walk along the north abutment and on upstream along the Fox River. The whole area is being nicely developed by the City and civic organizations.
Glad to see someone finally got this bridge on here, always thought it was a beautiful structure.
I have photos of them lowering the cantilever span. Did not get to see any of the detonations
I'd only seen the tops of the old span after it had been detonated from the current bridge back in 82 and had assumed the old bridge was like the old center pier movable bridge at Utica.
I'm surprised that the bridge was that new when it was replaced.
This page's URL is http://bridgehunter.com/il/lasalle/bh51456/
I actually just found a Sanicula Springs bottle undamaged in my backyard. Dug it up accidentally.