(Above) Photo (circa 1961) showing both Marina City and the Dearborn Street Bridge under construction.

Marina City sinks its first bridge

60 feet north of the river and 60 feet down, water was leaking into three caissons. Along with tons of soil, the water had to be pumped out. Unfortunately, this drained an area under the north side of the Dearborn Street Bridge that was being constructed, causing it to sink eight inches in February 1962.

Engineers were afraid the foundation at 320 North Dearborn (now The Westin Chicago River North hotel) might be affected, too. This was despite a schedule being worked out between the two construction projects a year earlier.

City Engineer Dick Van Gorp asked BGA to stop pumping and find another way to finish the caissons. He was worried utility lines and a cofferdam (used to create a dry work space) near the bridge would be in danger if pumping continued.

It was the latest problem for the new bridge. Already a year late, work had stopped three times and the city finally stopped guessing when it would be finished.