Barge traffic only in that part of the river. The I-90 bridges near the interchange with I-55 won't allow for anything higher than 50-60' to pass thru.
The big freighters are pretty much limited to south of 79th Avenue, where the Calumet River and shipping canal lead to Lake Calumet, plus the harbors down by Gary.
Goose Island
#12
Posted 15 May 2020 - 10:48 AM
Hopefully this is the appropriate place for this and is not too far off topic. In reading the thread with the Farwell building and having the subject of barges here, did the rivers/canals freeze during the winter? If so, did they just shut down for the season or did they have some form of ice breakers to deal with it? I didn't know if the narrowness and flow of the water and the surrounding buildings and environment giving off heat may have prevented freezing.
#13
Posted 15 May 2020 - 11:00 AM
there was more ship access years ago. I hope we can at least fit them in somewhere i love the big Lake Freighters. such ungainly beasts..and man are they fun to turn!
Chris
i will make barges too!!!! Cant keep a sailorman from the sea
https://fdr.blogs.ar...-sailing-ships/
Chris
i will make barges too!!!! Cant keep a sailorman from the sea
https://fdr.blogs.ar...-sailing-ships/
#14
Posted 15 May 2020 - 02:35 PM
mrbreeze, on 15 May 2020 - 10:48 AM, said:
Hopefully this is the appropriate place for this and is not too far off topic. In reading the thread with the Farwell building and having the subject of barges here, did the rivers/canals freeze during the winter? If so, did they just shut down for the season or did they have some form of ice breakers to deal with it? I didn't know if the narrowness and flow of the water and the surrounding buildings and environment giving off heat may have prevented freezing.
It depends. The Mississippi in central MN stays open except in the coldest winters, but smaller rivers will freeze. Usually, more current and more volume of water will stave off freezing for longer. The lakes tend not to freeze fully, but will eventually freeze enough to cause problems for shipping, usually later in the winter. (as late as February on Lake Superior)
#15
Posted 29 August 2020 - 09:33 PM
Both Lake Michigan and Lake Superior are far too deep to freeze over but it is common for the lake shore to freeze some short distance out into the lake. I don't know about the Chicago River but I expect it freezes too.
#16
Posted 30 August 2020 - 10:34 AM
It's true that the Great Lakes tend not to freeze over. That said, last year (2019) Lake Superior got to 95% ice coverage, though it took the worst winter in a few decades to do it; certainly the worst I can remember
#17
Posted 31 August 2020 - 07:25 AM
they have ice breakers to clear the river....steam in older days and deisel now
Chris
Chris