Joliet in Will County, Illinois — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)

Joliet Lift Bridges

cmh2315fl via Flickr/cropped (CC BY-NC 2.0), July 30, 2011

1. Joliet Lift Bridges Marker

Inscription. Outside of Chicago, Jollet has the largest number of operable lift bridges in the Midwest. The six bridges, built circa 1930, represent three of only four design styles of lift bridges made in the world.

The black railroad bridge is a vertical lift bridge.

"Scherzer rolling lift" bridges are found at McDonough, Jefferson, Cass and Jackson Streets. The Ruby Street bridge is a "Bascule Trunnion" bridge.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Bridges & Viaducts. A significant historical year for this entry is 1930.

Location. 41° 31.491′ N, 88° 5.176′ W. Marker is in Joliet, Illinois, in Will County. Marker is on West Jefferson Street (U.S. 30) 0.1 miles east of North Bluff Street, on the right when traveling east. Marker is on the Jefferson Street Bridge tender's house. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Joliet IL 60432, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Jefferson Street Bridge (here, next to this marker); Bridges in Joliet (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); American House Hotel (about 400 feet away); "Frannie" (about 400 feet away); James McKee's Mill and Dam (about 400 feet away); "Bluff Street" (about 400 feet away); Joliet/Juliet's First Log Cabin

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(about 400 feet away); Bicentennial Park (about 400 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Joliet.

Related markers. Click here for a list of markers that are related to this marker.

Joliet Vertical Lift Railroad Bridge image. Click for full size.

cmh2315fl via Flickr (CC BY-NC 2.0), July 30, 2011

2. Joliet Vertical Lift Railroad Bridge

The American Bridge Co. built the bridge for the Rock Island Railroad in 1932.

Cass Street Bridge image. Click for full size.

cmh2315fl via Flickr (CC BY-NC 2.0), August 15, 2011

3. Cass Street Bridge

One of four Scherzer rolling lift bascule bridges in Joliet, it was built in 1932 by the Mississippi Valley Structural Steel Co.

Ruby Street Bridge image. Click for full size.

cmh2315fl via Flickr (CC BY-NC 2.0), July 30, 2011

4. Ruby Street Bridge

A trunnion bascule bridge built in 1935, it once was part of the historic U.S. Route 66.

Credits. This page was last revised on May 24, 2022. It was originally submitted on May 24, 2022, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee. This page has been viewed 428 times since then and 118 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on May 24, 2022, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee.

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