Reference

The Cortland Street Drawbridge (originally known as the Clybourn Place drawbridge)[4] over the Chicago River is the original Chicago-style fixed-trunnion bascule bridge, designed by John Ericson and Edward Wilmann.[3] When it opened in 1902, on Chicago's north side, it was the first such bridge built in the United States. The bridge was a major advance in American movable bridge engineering, and was the prototype for over 50 additional bridges in Chicago alone.[5] The bridge was designated as an ASCE Civil Engineering Landmark in 1981, and a Chicago Landmark in 1991. | Design | Chicago trunnion bascule bridge[1] | Historic American Engineering Record (HAER) No. IL-138, "Chicago River Bascule Bridge, West Cortland Street, Spanning North Branch of Chicago River at West Cortland Street, Chicago, Cook County, IL", 9 photos, 2 data pages, 2 photo caption pages

The Cortland Street Drawbridge was the fi rst ... direction, the Department of Public Works did not. By 1898 Ericson was convinced that ... The Cortland Street Drawbridge opened for service in 1902, clearing the way for improved navigation on the Chicago River. Nine similar spans would be

| Design | Chicago trunnion bascule bridge[1] | The Cortland Street Drawbridge (originally known as the Clybourn Place drawbridge)[4] over the Chicago River is the original Chicago-style fixed-trunnion bascule bridge, designed by John Ericson and Edward Wilmann.[3] When it opened in 1902, on Chicago's north side, it was the first such bridge built in the United States. ^ Cortland Street Bridge, 1953. Historic American Engineering Record (HAER) No. IL-138, "Chicago River Bascule Bridge, West Cortland Street, Spanning North Branch of Chicago River at West Cortland Street, Chicago, Cook County, IL", 9 photos, 2 data pages, 2 photo caption pages Bridges in Chicago