The 95th Street Bridge Over the Calumet River

Spanning the Calumet River in southeast Chicago, the 95th Street Bridge is a historic bascule bridge and a critical transportation link, connecting neighborhoods, commerce, and industry. Now undergoing a comprehensive rehabilitation, the bridge is being carefully upgraded to meet modern safety, performance, and mobility standards, while preserving the architectural and engineering features that have defined it for generations. Decades of heavy traffic, river navigation, and environmental exposure have taken their toll, making this rehabilitation essential to ensure the bridge continues to serve the community reliably for years to come.

Engineering for longevity
DB Sterlin was engaged to perform detailed bridge inspections and structural engineering services to assess existing conditions and identify critical repairs. Like many aging movable bridges, this structure required targeted upgrades to extend its service life and enhance reliability, all without compromising ongoing operations.

Our team developed a forward-looking rehabilitation strategy focused on structural integrity and constructability. The project includes the structural design of new fixed-span steel stringers and floorbeams, rear brakes, reinforced concrete decks, sidewalk slabs, and approach slabs, as well as the conversion to semi-integral abutments to improve long-term performance and reduce maintenance needs.

Additionally, we delivered structural designs for movable span framing, lateral bracing, ornamental railings, pit stairs, landings, and ladders, ensuring both operational safety and user accessibility. Concrete rehabilitation of the river piers, interior pit walls, and retaining walls restores critical substructure components that have been exposed to decades of wear and environmental deterioration.

Coordinating complexity
Rehabilitating a movable bridge over an active waterway demands precision and coordination. Our responsibilities extended beyond structural design to include topographic surveys, preparation of plats of highways, and development of legal descriptions to support accurate mapping and right-of-way documentation. We ensured compliance with applicable standards, secured required permits, and managed project administration tasks, including stakeholder meetings, interdisciplinary reviews, and site visits.

Upgrades to mechanical and electrical systems, improved lighting, enhanced safety features for pedestrians and cyclists, and advanced monitoring systems will position the bridge for reliable long-term operation. Foundation reinforcement and system modernization further strengthen the structure against future demands.

Built for the future
The rehabilitation of the 95th Street Bridge represents more than infrastructure renewal; it is an investment in connectivity, safety, and economic vitality for southeast Chicago. By blending structural innovation with careful preservation, the project safeguards a historic crossing while delivering a resilient, modernized asset ready to serve its community for decades to come.