For the briefest of moments, two of the most important highways in the United States share space. This lasts all of three blocks before the Lincoln Highway turns left on Lockport St. US 30 used to follow it, but now continues straight around downtown Plainfield. Historic US 66 then turns east on IL 126, leaving just the two currently numbered routes, US 30 and IL 59.


Lake Renwick, looking east from US 30 in Plainfield. The birds sure like this structure, which makes sense, because it's part of a rookery. Thanks to Brandon Gorte for pointing out the obvious.


The Cass St. Bridge in Joliet, over the Des Plaines River, seen from Joliet St. at Crowley Ave. US 30 WB crosses this one, and US 30 EB crosses the twin Jefferson St. Bridge to the south. If you don't like truss bridges, well, there's something wrong with you, but skip to the last photo on the page now.


Heading west on Cass St., which originally carried both directions of the Lincoln Highway.


Looking north from the Jefferson St. area at Cass St. The greener Jackson St. Bridge is in the distance. Now seems like the perfect time to quote from a plaque on the Jefferson St. Bridge: "Outside of Chicago, Joliet has the largest number of operable lift bridges in the Midwest. The six bridges, built circa 1930, represent three of only four design styles of lift bridges made in the world." (I think "made in the world" is unnecessary, but I digress.) "The black railroad bridge [which you will see shortly] is a 'vertical lift' bridge. 'Scherzer rolling lift' bridges are found at McDonough, Jefferson, Cass and Jackson Streets." (Pardon the lack of an Oxford comma. I'll also point out that there are two spaces between sentences. Oh, the humanity.) "The Ruby Street bridge is a 'Bascule Trunnion' bridge."

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Looking south from the west shore of the Des Plaines River at the Jefferson St. Bridge, US 30 EB. This semi-unique bridge (can't call it unique with Cass St. right there listening) was one of the stops on the 2012 Joliet Road Meet, so I have plenty of photos from every angle.


My eastward-facing photos cross to the south sidewalk and back to the north as I head across the river.


Structural elements of the bridge viewed from the north side. The bridge in the background is that black vertical lift railroad bridge referenced in the quote from my prior caption.


Several views of the railroad bridge in the foreground, followed by the McDonough St. bridge (US 6/US 52), and ending with I-80 in the background.


I come off the bridge to a signal facing the wrong way. Brandon Gorte informs me that the bridges were already a one-way pair when the signal was erected. My original theory was that it would warn pedestrians of bridge openings, not that pedestrians can't stop for a closed gate with sirens going off (or a bridge in the air, at that). Brandon notes that it would also come in handy when one of the two bridges is closed (construction or emergencies).


Speaking of which, Doug Kerr captured the Jefferson St. Bridge in action in 2006, from the east shore.


My own photos looking wrong-way west.

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US 6/30 WB in downtown Joliet.


Harvey Rd. in Oswego takes the original EB alignment away from the modern one.


Button copy on IL 394 SB, courtesy Scott Colbert. IL 394 may become I-394 at some distant future time.

Into Indiana on US 30
Onto former US 66
Back to the Joliet Road Meet page
Joliet Non-Roads
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