Randolph Street Bridge, bascule bridge in downtown Chicago, US

Randolph Street Bridge is a steel bascule bridge carrying Randolph Street across the Chicago River in downtown Chicago, Illinois. Built in 1914 and renovated in 2013, it links the West Loop and Near North Side, and its leaves pivot upward on a counterweight system to let river traffic through.

Built in 1914, the Randolph Street Bridge is a steel bascule bridge over the Chicago River in downtown Chicago. It was renovated in 2013. It links the West Loop and Near North Side neighbourhoods, one of the river crossings that carried road traffic as the city grew.

The bridge connects to Randolph Street, named after Edmund Randolph, the first United States Attorney General who served from 1789 to 1795.

When crossing the bridge on foot or by vehicle, be aware that it can lift without much advance notice when boat traffic requires passage. Watch for barriers and warning lights that indicate when the bridge is operating.

The Randolph Street Bridge is a steel bascule bridge built in 1914 and renovated in 2013, linking West Loop and Near North Side. Its leaves pivot on a fixed axis rather than rising vertically, so the counterweights swing down as the roadway tilts up. Look for the machinery housing beside the roadway when the bridge is closed.