Lake Shore and Michigan Southern Railway, Bridge No. 6, Steel vertical-lift railway bridge in Chicago, Illinois.
Lake Shore and Michigan Southern Railway Bridge No. 6 is a steel vertical-lift structure with two parallel spans carrying four railway tracks across the Calumet River in Chicago. Each span can lift independently to allow river traffic to pass beneath.
Designed by Waddell & Harrington and built between 1912 and 1915, this structure replaced an earlier swing bridge serving the same route. The vertical-lift design represented an improvement in handling the expanding rail traffic of the period.
The bridge was designated a Chicago Landmark in 2007, reflecting its role in the city's industrial rail network. It stands as a reminder of how trains shaped Chicago's growth and commerce.
The bridge crosses the Calumet River in Chicago's southeast industrial area and can be viewed from nearby waterside trails and embankments. Walking paths along the river offer the clearest views of the structure.
The bridge remains permanently raised in its lifting position and is currently operated by Norfolk Southern Railway. This fixed state gives it a distinctive profile visible across the industrial landscape.
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