Chicago River Bascule Bridge, Franklin Street, Spanning Chicago River at North Franklin Street, Chicago, Cook County, IL

Significance: The development of the Chicago trunnion bascule bridge occurred during the first three decades of the twentieth century. Despite the controversy over patent infringement Joseph E. Strauss charged the City of Chicago engineers with infringing on his patented Strauss-Trunion bascule bridge the Chicago bascule received great acclaim within the civil engineering profession. The Franklin Street Bridge was completed at the same time the City of Chicago was settling the patent dispute with Strauss.
Survey number: HAER IL-65
Building/structure dates: 1920 Initial Construction