We have some good news and bad news about the historic Ruby Street Bridge in Joliet, Illinois.
The bad news is the bridge will undergo repairs starting Monday and may cause traffic tie-ups until the project’s completion this summer because of lane closings. So keep that in mind if you want to go Route 66 cruising during rush-hour times.
The good news is the bridge will continue to serve motor, pedestrian and marine traffic during the construction. The steel repairs also are expected to prolong the life of the bridge, reported the Herald-News.
The Ruby Street bridge was built in 1935, rehabilitated in 1972 and rehabbed again in 2011. The nearly 400-foot-long structure spans the Des Plaines River.
This video shows how the bridge allows tall ships to pass on the river.
The Ruby Street Bridge commonly is referred to as a drawbridge, but it’s technically a bascule bridge.
The bridge remains eligible for the National Register of Historic Places, but it has not been nominated.
(Hat tip to Hugo Panzeri; image of the Ruby Street Bridge in Joliet, Illinois, in 2011 by cmh2315fl via Flickr)
How often was the bridge lifted in the past for river traffic? And how often is it lifted these days? How much has the type of river traffic changed over the years?