Shippingsport Bridge

Shippingsport Bridge is a road bridge over the Illinois River with seven spans connecting LaSalle and Oglesby via Illinois Route 351. The structure uses high-performance steel with thinner girders and fewer supports than earlier designs.

The structure was completed in 2003 and replaced three earlier bridges at the same location, including a swing bridge from 1872 and a vertical-lift bridge from 1929. This succession shows the evolution of bridge engineering over more than a century.

The bridge is part of the Illinois & Michigan Canal National Heritage Corridor and shows how transportation infrastructure evolved in the region. Visitors can see how modern roads complement the historic waterways below.

The bridge carries two lanes of traffic and is designed for everyday vehicle passage. When crossing the Illinois River, visitors can view the river landscape from the bridge.

The name comes from a former settlement west of Oglesby that served as a supply center for fishermen working on the Illinois River. This historic connection to river commerce is often overlooked today.

Location: Illinois

Inception: October 30, 2003

Official opening: October 30, 2003

GPS coordinates: 41.31440,-89.09160

Latest update: December 14, 2025 18:41