Mile-Long Bridge
The Mile-Long Bridge is the colloquial name for a 4,608-foot-long (1,404.5 m) bridge in the northeastern part of the U.S. state of Illinois. The bridge carries Interstate 294 (I-294) over the Des Plaines River, the Chicago Ship and Sanitary Canal, numerous railroad lines, and an intermodal facility. A series of 51 piers carries I-294 over the broad Des Plaines River valley.[1]
Mile-Long Bridge | |
---|---|
Coordinates | 41.7504°N 87.8652°W |
Carries | 8 lanes of ![]() |
Crosses | Des Plaines River, Chicago Ship and Sanitary Canal, numerous railroads, UPS intermodal facility |
Locale | Willow Springs, IL |
Maintained by | Illinois State Toll Highway Authority |
ID number | 000016095903931[1] |
Characteristics | |
Design | Steel girder[1] |
Total length | 4,608 ft (1,404.5 m)[1] |
Width | 42 ft (12.8 m)[1] |
History | |
Opened | 1958[1] |
Statistics | |
Daily traffic | 150,000[2] |
Location | |
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In spite of its name, the bridge falls 672 feet (205 m) short of one full mile in length.
Construction of the new Mile-Long Bridge started in the middle of 2019 as part of the Central Tri-State Tollway Project.[3] The Illinois State Toll Highway Authority is currently constructing a replacement Mile-Long Bridge, and it will be expanded to five lanes in either direction.[4] The bridge project is slated to finish in 2023.[2]
References
- Svirsky, Alexander R. (2007). "NBI Structure Number: 000016095903931". Retrieved November 21, 2007.
- Roz Varon (May 14, 2019). "New Mile Long Bridge to be built along Tri-State Tollway". WLS-TV. Retrieved June 15, 2020.
- "Mile-Long Bridge Project". Retrieved June 16, 2020.
- "Central Tri-State Tollway Project". Retrieved June 16, 2020.