Chicago’s First Bridge Lift of Spring 2026. Civil Engineering. Public Works. Frame the Works. Part 1: Lake Street Bridge to Clark Street Bridge.

Article and photographs by Divi Logan.

I. Bridge lifts and boat runs are a staple of Chicago’s spring sights along the South and Main Branches of the roughly Y-shaped waterway. For today’s lift and boat run, I arrived downtown in time to watch the Lake Street Bridge lift and walked the rest of the way to DuSable at Michigan Avenue.

II. The Gallery. Bridge Lifts and Boat Run of 22 April 2026. Conditions: Cloudy to Sunny, pleasant temperatures and busy urban environment.

II A. Lake Street Bridge. Date: 1916. Carries: CTA Pink and Green Line trains, vehicles, and pedestrians. Marks the beginning of the South Branch of the Chicago River.

Lake Street Bridge in Chicago
Lake Street Bridge with Pink Line Train before the 22 April 2026 lift and boat run.
Lake Street Bridge east leaf rising
Crews are busy in the bridge house and watching from the Riverwalk as the east leaf rises.
Lake Street Bridge under construction
Crews monitor the rising east leaf from the west leaf. The west leaf contains construction equipment and vehicles. Scaffolding covers part of the northwest corner at the substructure. A floating platform contains additional equipment.
Lake Street Bridge east leaf
People watch as the east leaf of Lake Street Bridge rises to near its maximum height for that day.

II B. Franklin Street Bridge. Date: 1920. Carries: vehicles and pedestrians over the Main Branch of the Chicago River.

Franklin Street Bridge clear span
Franklin Street Bridge clear span before the lift of 22 April 2026. The Mart dominates the background.
Franklin Street Bridge warning lights
Lights and bells sound ahead of the raising of the Franklin Street Bridge. Crews are active in the southeast house and around the bridge.
Franklin Street Bridge telephoto
Franklin Street Bridge center as both leaves rise. Telephoto.
Franklin Street Bridge north leaf substructure and abutment. The Mart is to the right.
Franklin Street Bridge south leaf and southeast bridge house with crews inside.
Franklin Street Bridge both leaves raised. Viewed looking west from near Wells Street Bridge.

II C. Wells Street Bridge. Opened 1922. Bridge rebuilt: 2012-2013.

Wells Street Bridge clear span. View looks north. The Mart is in the background.
Wells Street Bridge view through the clear span. Gate arms are down as crews prepare for the bridge lift. Members of the train deck are in yellow.
Wells Street Bridge with north leaf rising. Telephoto.
Wells Street Bridge north leaf raised. Southeast bridge house and urban environment.
Wells Street Bridge north leaf: elements of the center edge and substructure.
Wells Street Bridge north leaf substructure and abutment.

II D. LaSalle Street Bridge. Date: 1928. Carries: vehicles and pedestrians across the Main Branch of the Chicago River.

LaSalle Street Bridge before the lift. Four bridge tender’s houses stand out against the background of Chicago’s architecture. Background: Reid-Murdoch Building and Marina City. Also noted are 300 North LaSalle, The Westin River North, 321 North Clark, 353 North Clark, and in the distance at right, the slender spire of Mather Tower.
Beginning of the LaSalle Street bridge lift. The south leaf rises.
LaSalle Street bridge center. Telephoto.
LaSalle Street Bridge with both leaves rising. View looks north.
LaSalle Street Bridge south leaf with stop lights, lowered gate arms, bell, and SE bridge house.
LaSalle Street Bridge with both leaves raised. View looks northwest.

II E. Clark Street Bridge. Date: 1929. Carries: vehicles and pedestrians over the Main Branch of the Chicago River.

Stop lights flash and bells sound as crews prepare for the raising of Clark Street Bridge.
Clark Street Bridge south leaf gear rack, gusset plates, west sidewalk, and part of a stop light mast. View looks north.
The north leaf rises on Clark Street Bridge. Design elements: Pratt pony truss, X-bracing, part of the southeast corner gear rack protection plates. View looks north.
Clark Street Bridge north leaf raised and southeast corner gear rack with gusset plates and rivets. View looks north.
North leaf of Clark Street Bridge showing substructure elements of bracing, sidewalk cantilevers, and abutment. View northwest includes the corner bridge tender’s house.
Telephoto of north leaf substructure. Clark Street Bridge.
North leaf substructure elements, abutment, bridge protection bumper, and northwest bridge house.

Conclusion

These bridge lifts showcase two important aspects of Chicago’s transportation industry: teamwork and technology. Teams of CDOT bridge crews monitor the area around each bridge for public safety. Some crew members watch and control the raising of the leaves from bridge tender’s houses, an essential element for public safety since the building of the city’s first bridges.

At the time of these photographs, Lake Street Bridge is undergoing renovations. With careful consideration and preservation, Chicago’s collection of bascule bridges will remain in public service for decades to come.

Resources

  1. Wikipedia contributors. “321 North Clark.” Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia, 16 Apr. 2026. Web. 23 Apr. 2026.
  2. Wikipedia contributors. “Mather Tower.” Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia, 5 Mar. 2026. Web. 23 Apr. 2026.
  3. Wikipedia contributors. “353 North Clark.” Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia, 28 Feb. 2026. Web. 23 Apr. 2026.
  4. Wikipedia contributors. “Franklin Street Bridge.” Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia, 27 May. 2025. Web. 23 Apr. 2026.
  5. Wikipedia contributors. “Wells Street Bridge (Chicago).” Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia, 27 May. 2025. Web. 23 Apr. 2026.
  6. Wikipedia contributors. “Clark Street Bridge.” Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia, 4 Jan. 2026. Web. 23 Apr. 2026.

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