The Illinois Town with Multiple Swinging Footbridges to Experience

Suspension bridges are common these days for car traffic crossing bodies of water. Previously suspension footbridges were more common and obviously on a smaller scale. There are still some here and there across Illinois, like the General Dean Bridge in Carlyle, the Atwood Park suspension bridge across the Kishwaukee river south of Rockford, and the Caldwell Memorial bridge in Cook County, but there is one small Illinois city that has a few to check out.

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Pontiac Illinois is home to three different walking suspension bridges that are historic, functional and fantastic practical teachers of physics and science. Yes, they also lend themselves to unique social media posts, and you can easily cross all three on an easy jaunt.

Pontiac Illinois has surprises awaiting

Pontiac Sign/Google maps[/caption]The oldest of the three bridges was built in 1898, while the newest one was built in 1978. All of them connect to city parks and are wooden planked with original ironwork and concrete. And all of them cross the Vermilion river.

If you have a fear of bridges, or gephyrophobia, these walkable suspension bridges may help with your condition. Their height above the river isn’t terribly elevated, and the river depth is between three and five feet. But remember, the bridges will move with you, especially if you are heavy on your feet. That’s what they are designed to do. It’s a feature not a flaw.