Lake Street Bridge
Lake Street Bridge is one of the oldest bridges in Chicago. Champagne bottles were popped on November 6, 1916 when this double-decker, double-leaf bascule beauty came to life.
The upper deck is used for Chicago elevated commuter trains and the lower deck is for cars and pedestrians.
There is something magical about drawbridges, especially massive double-decker as Lake Street Bridge. Because of the balanced counterweights it takes very little effort to close and open the bridge. It looks like a gigantic kid’s toy when you observe this double story metal structure rising above the river.
Bridge, as a concept, is a wonderful structure. It connects places that were separated, unreachable, forbidden and impossible. It creates connections for people both literally and figuratively.
A drawbridge is a constant reminder of this idea. When the bridge is raised and the gap emerges in the middle, we are no longer connected. All we can do is just wave to each other standing on separate sides of the river. But when the bridge is closed we can walk over and meet each other. We can connect.
The bridges are temples of connection. Don’t take them for granted.
