Connecting Chicago and Waukegan in 1854, service commenced on the Chicago & Milwaukee Railway in 1855. The original terminal in Chicago was at Wells & Kinzie streets, and the train ran at street level. The Chicago & North Western company bought the line in 1883.

In the 1890s, safety concerns led Chicago to require that the C&NW raise the tracks above grade, resulting in the construction of this bridge in 1896. North of Foster Ave, however, trains continued running at street level until 1908.