41.73000000, -87.56000000
Drawbridge / movable Railroad bridge
WaterwayCalumet River
Route SegmentIllinois / Chicago
Route VariantInland Rivers / Chicago or Cal-Sag
State / ProvinceIL
Nearest CityChicago
Mile MarkerRM 332.7
Bridge TypeLift railroad
Source Confidencemedium
What Boaters Should Know
Elgin Joliet & Eastern Railroad Bridge on Calumet Rivernear Chicago, IL; closed clearance about 7.3 ft. Very low closed movable bridge.
Clearance And Opening Details
Vertical Clearance Closed7.30 ft
Vertical Clearance Open126.70 ft
Horizontal Clearance209.70 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 rail/opening status.
- Operator / Contact
- Not verified
Navigation And Regulatory Notes
- Air Draft Notes
- Closed/air-draft clearance: 7.3 ft. Open clearance: 126.7 ft. Datum/reference: Low Water Datum Lake Michigan; IGLD 1985. Clearance band: Route-limiting / Critical
- Navigation Notes
- Lift bridge; verify rail/opening status. Only 7.3 ft closed per USACE table; high when lifted. Closed/air-draft clearance: 7.3 ft. Open clearance: 126.7 ft. Datum/reference: Low Water Datum Lake Michigan; IGLD 1985. Clearance band: Route-limiting / Critical Lift bridge; verify rail/opening status.
- Regulatory Notes
- Lift bridge; verify rail/opening status. Only 7.3 ft closed per USACE table; high when lifted.
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.