By Ricky Rieckert
Dear readers,
This week, we’ll finish the history of Aurora’s bridges.
The bridges over the Fox River in Aurora, have significantly impacted the City’s development and character.
Bridges were initially built to overcome the Fox River, connecting the east and west sides of Aurora, to enable easier travel and commerce.
The New York Street Memorial Bridge is perhaps the most beautiful and unique of the Stolp Island collection of arch bridges.
The bridge was designed as a memorial to World War I veterans. The bridge is far more than a typical memorial bridge where a simple plaque is placed on the bridge. Instead, the bridge displays a truly beautiful design where the bridge itself is the memorial. At each end of the bridge, a concrete statue titled “Memory” rises up above the railings at the western-most and eastern-most pier points.
The design is such that the pier and railings all flow together to form the base of the statue. Bronze plaques can be found at the base of these statues as well.
At the center of the bridge there are two outlooks with additional memorials. On the north side of the bridge, there is another statue made of bronze, titled “Victory” which sits on a concrete pedestal. On the south side the bridge has a plaque flanked by two eagle statuettes.
The bridge retains original railings, of an unusual and beautiful lattice-like design, which are in excellent condition. The arch railings of the bridge are also original.
Although today the bridge has the appearance of two separate bridges for the east and west channels, just like the other six bridges over the entire River.
However, in the 1960s, fill was brought in to expand the Island northward, and the center of the bridge was buried in the fill.
Today, a parking garage is south of the former center of the bridge and a casino is north of the former center of the bridge.
The original bridge displayed nine arch spans with a single stringer approach span at each end.
The Hurd’s Island Rail Bridge, (off North Avenue), is one of two that carries a railroad line over the Fox River. It is a triple-span open spandrel concrete arch bridge built in 1919-1920. The bridge was designed to carry three tracks, but only two are currently in use.
It features decorative designs and concrete substructures. The bridge is considered a unique example of a decorative bridge, and a rehabilitation project was completed in March of 2020.
The other Hurd’s Island railroad bridge over the Fox River, is now abandoned.
This bridge is a deck plate girder bridge with six spans.
It was built in 1901 and was the original Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad (CB&Q) main line through Aurora.
The bridge was bypassed in 1920 and is, likely, abandoned since the 1980s. It is known for its alternating stone and concrete substructures.
In essence, the bridges over the Fox River in Aurora are integral to the city’s infrastructure, economy, history, and overall sense of place.
Have a great week!