Franklin Street Bridge

Infobox_Bridge
bridge_name=Franklin Street Bridge

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caption=
official_name=Franklin Street Bridge
carries=Automobiles, Pedestrians
crosses=Chicago River
locale=Chicago, Cook County, Illinois
maint=
id=
design=Great Lakes Dredge and Dock Company, Ketler-Elliot Company
mainspan=220 feet
length=320 feet
width=62 feet
clearance=
below=18.7 feet
traffic=
open=1919
closed=
toll=
map_cue=
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map_text=
map_width=
coordinates=coord|41|53|14|N|87|38|9|W|region:US_type:landmark
lat=
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The Franklin Street Bridge over the Chicago River was built in 1919, directly southwest of the Merchandise Mart. Connecting the Near North Side with "The Loop," is at the junction of the branches of the river, lying directly west of the Wells Street Bridge. It carries four lanes of traffic in the northbound direction, and sidewalks are available on both sides of the bridge.

Great Lakes Dredge and Dock Company was the contractor for the substructure, and the Ketler-Elliot Company was the contractor for the superstructure. Original electrical equipment was installed by C.H. Norwood. The bridge is an example of a trunnion bascule bridge, with each half of the roadway is cantilevered out from shore abutments. The bridge is extremely efficient to operate.

The bridge provided a new connection to the southern banks of the river and aided in westward expansion along Wacker Drive.

In popular culture

* The bridge was featured prominently in the 2005 film "Batman Begins" as the bridge that connects Gotham City with the Narrows. [cite web |url=http://www.glasssteelandstone.com/Features/BatmanBegins/BatmanBegins.php |title=The Buildings of Batman Begins |accessdate=2007-05-27 |work=Glass Steel and Stone: Global Architecture Encyclopedia ]

References and notes

Footnotes

General references

* [http://hdl.loc.gov/loc.pnp/hhh.il0631 Survey number HAER IL-65] - Chicago River Bascule Bridge, Franklin Street, Spanning Chicago River at North Franklin Street, Chicago, Cook County, IL