Great Loop bridge planning reference

Chessie Railroad Drawbridge

Chessie Railroad Drawbridge on Illinois Rivernear Morris, IL; closed clearance about 20.5 ft. Low movable rail bridge.

41.30625000, -88.58558000

Drawbridge / movable Railroad bridge
WaterwayIllinois River
Route SegmentIllinois / Chicago
Route VariantInland Rivers / Chicago or Cal-Sag
State / ProvinceIL
Nearest CityMorris
Mile MarkerRM 254.1
Bridge TypeLift railroad
Source Confidencehigh

What Boaters Should Know

Chessie Railroad Drawbridge on Illinois Rivernear Morris, IL; closed clearance about 20.5 ft. Low movable rail bridge.

Clearance And Opening Details

Vertical Clearance Closed20.50 ft
Vertical Clearance Open48.10 ft
Horizontal Clearance140.00 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
Editor notes schedules may change; check Waterway Explorer/nav alerts.
Operator / Contact
Not verified

Navigation And Regulatory Notes

Air Draft Notes
Closed/air-draft clearance: 20.5 ft. Open clearance: 48.1 ft. Datum/reference: Low Operating Level / Flat Pool; NGVD 1929. Clearance band: Low / Timing-sensitive
Navigation Notes
Editor notes schedules may change; check Waterway Explorer/nav alerts. Waterway Guide lists exact coordinates and 20.5-ft closed clearance. Closed/air-draft clearance: 20.5 ft. Open clearance: 48.1 ft. Datum/reference: Low Operating Level / Flat Pool; NGVD 1929. Clearance band: Low / Timing-sensitive Editor notes schedules may change; check Waterway Explorer/nav alerts.
Regulatory Notes
Editor notes schedules may change; check Waterway Explorer/nav alerts. Waterway Guide lists exact coordinates and 20.5-ft closed clearance.

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.

Planning awareness only: Bridge information is provided for planning awareness only. Always verify current bridge status, clearance, water levels, bridge schedules, opening restrictions, Local Notices to Mariners, bridge signage, and official charts before transit. FloatPlanWizard is not a navigation authority.