41.34500000, -88.84100000
Drawbridge / movable Railroad bridge
WaterwayIllinois River
Route SegmentIllinois / Chicago
Route VariantInland Rivers / Chicago or Cal-Sag
State / ProvinceIL
Nearest CityOttawa
Mile MarkerRM 239.4
Bridge TypeLift railroad
Source Confidencemedium
What Boaters Should Know
Burlington Northern Railroad Drawbridge on Illinois Rivernear Ottawa, IL; closed clearance about 21.7 ft. Low movable rail bridge.
Clearance And Opening Details
Vertical Clearance Closed21.70 ft
Vertical Clearance Open48.10 ft
Horizontal Clearance167.00 ft
VHF ChannelNot verified
PhoneNot verified
Last Verified2026-06-08
Bridge contact information has not been verified yet. Confirm current opening procedures before transit.
Verify against current water level / bridge gauge before transit.
Opening / Contact Notes
- Opening Schedule
- Lift bridge; verify status.
- Operator / Contact
- Not verified
Navigation And Regulatory Notes
- Air Draft Notes
- Closed/air-draft clearance: 21.7 ft. Open clearance: 48.1 ft. Datum/reference: Low Operating Level / Flat Pool; NGVD 1929. Clearance band: Low / Timing-sensitive
- Navigation Notes
- Lift bridge; verify status. Low fixed/open values; verify river level. Closed/air-draft clearance: 21.7 ft. Open clearance: 48.1 ft. Datum/reference: Low Operating Level / Flat Pool; NGVD 1929. Clearance band: Low / Timing-sensitive Lift bridge; verify status.
- Regulatory Notes
- Lift bridge; verify status. Low fixed/open values; verify river level.
Planning Considerations
Confirm your vessel air draft, current water levels, bridge signage, official charts, bridge schedules, Local Notices to Mariners, and any VHF or phone procedures before approaching this bridge. If the bridge is movable, build extra time into your route plan for opening windows, traffic, restrictions, weather, and communication delays.