Franklin Street Bridge

Franklin Street Bridge is a bascule bridge spanning the Chicago River that connects the Near North Side to The Loop district with a clear span of about 220 feet. The structure is 62 feet wide, carries four lanes of northbound traffic, and has sidewalks on both sides.

The bridge was built by the Ketler-Elliott Company and opened in October 1920 as one of the city's most modern transportation structures of the time. The project marked an important step in developing the city's downtown traffic system.

The bridge is part of the Illinois & Michigan Canal National Heritage Corridor and demonstrates the engineering skill Chicago developed in the early 20th century. You can see how people designed structures to work with the river's needs at that time.

When crossing the bridge on foot, use the sidewalks on both sides and watch for traffic during busy times. The best time for a walk is outside rush hour when fewer vehicles are using the roadway.

The bridge appeared in the 2005 film Batman Begins, where it served as part of the fictional Gotham City landscape. Film fans can still view the same perspectives from the riverbank that were used in that action thriller.

Location: Illinois

Official opening: October 1920

GPS coordinates: 41.88720,-87.63580

Latest update: December 12, 2025 12:00