Suspension Bridges Crossing Des Plaines River

This is a list of all 5 bridges from the suspension bridge inventory crossing Des Plaines River. Please note that different rivers with the same name will be grouped together. For example, selecting 'Bear Creek' shows bridges across several different Bear Creeks. Also, similarly named rivers are grouped separately. For example, 'River Dee' (UK) bridges are grouped separately from 'Dee River' (Australia) bridges. Wherever you see a Bridgemeister ID number click it to isolate the bridge on its own page.

Related Lists:

1893: Watson's

Riverside, Illinois, USA - Des Plaines River
Bridgemeister ID:5669 (added 2021-01-30)
Year Completed:1893
Name:Watson's
Location:Riverside, Illinois, USA
Crossing:Des Plaines River
Coordinates:41.825778 N 87.817795 W
Maps:Acme, GeoHack, Google, OpenStreetMap
Use:Footbridge
Status:Replaced
Main Cables:Wire
Suspended Spans:1

Notes:


1905: Swinging

Riverside, Illinois, USA - Des Plaines River
Bridgemeister ID:2617 (added 2018-12-30)
Year Completed:1905
Name:Swinging
Location:Riverside, Illinois, USA
Crossing:Des Plaines River
Coordinates:41.825603 N 87.817864 W
Maps:Acme, GeoHack, Google, OpenStreetMap
Use:Footbridge
Status:Replaced, 1940
Main Cables:Wire
Suspended Spans:1

Notes:


1940: H. Wallace Caldwell Memorial

Riverside, Illinois, USA - Des Plaines River
Bridgemeister ID:775 (added 2003-03-14)
Year Completed:1940
Name:H. Wallace Caldwell Memorial
Also Known As:Swinging
Location:Riverside, Illinois, USA
Crossing:Des Plaines River
Coordinates:41.826083 N 87.8176 W
Maps:Acme, GeoHack, Google, OpenStreetMap
Use:Footbridge
Status:In use (last checked: 2021)
Main Cables:Wire (steel)
Suspended Spans:1
Main Span:1 x 64 meters (210 feet) estimated

Notes:

Annotated Citations:

  • Uphues, Bob. "Riverside Township confounded in effort to repaint bridge." Riverside-Brookfield Landmark, 19 October 2021, https://www.rblandmark.com/2021/10/19/riverside-township-confounded-in-effort-to-repaint-bridge/

    "What was thought to be a pretty straightforward project to refurbish the 210-foot long H. Wallace Caldwell Memorial Bridge – known to local residents as the Swinging Bridge – has turned into something of a nightmare for the Riverside Township Board of Trustees… It turns out that not only was the $75,000 earmarked in the 2021-22 budget far below what it’s going to take to do the job, the township board has had trouble getting companies to even submit bids."

  • Uphues, Bob. "Riverside Township confounded in effort to repaint bridge." Riverside-Brookfield Landmark, 21 March 2023, https://www.rblandmark.com/2023/03/21/swinging-bridge-overhaul-set-to-start-in-late-march/

    "A long-awaited project to overhaul the painted surfaces of the Swinging Bridge will start March 27 after Riverside Township trustees voted 4-0 on March 14 to approve an ordinance announcing their intention to issue up to $500,000 in alternate revenue bonds to fund the work…"

Photo by Patrick S. O'Donnell

(conveyor bridge)

Joliet, Illinois, USA - Des Plaines River
Bridgemeister ID:2574 (added 2012-11-18)
Name:(conveyor bridge)
Location:Joliet, Illinois, USA
Crossing:Des Plaines River
At or Near Feature:Joliet 29 Generating Station
Coordinates:41.494281 N 88.119729 W
Maps:Acme, GeoHack, Google, OpenStreetMap
Use:Conveyor
Status:Extant (last checked: 2012)
Main Cables:Wire (steel)

(footbridge)

North Riverside, Illinois, USA - Des Plaines River
Bridgemeister ID:861 (added 2003-08-09)
Name:(footbridge)
Location:North Riverside, Illinois, USA
Crossing:Des Plaines River
At or Near Feature:Riverside Golf Club
Coordinates:41.84336 N 87.82781 W
Maps:Acme, GeoHack, Google, OpenStreetMap
Use:Footbridge
Status:In use
Main Cables:Wire
Suspended Spans:1
Main Span:1 x 45.7 meters (150 feet) estimated

Notes:

  • This bridge employs an interesting system of cable stays and inclined suspenders. It accomodates foot and golf cart traffic.
Photo by Patrick S. O'Donnell


Do you have any information or photos for these bridges that you would like to share? Please email david.denenberg@bridgemeister.com.


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