The Water Street Draw Bridge

We are lucky enough to live in a city that’s on some serious water.
Big-​ass lake? Check.
Serious river? Check.
Serious river that makes its way into the city proper? Check.
Serious river that splits off of itself into tributaries (I don’t think that’s the proper usage, but whatever) so that the river is all over the city? Check.
Okay, so out of necessity then, you get draw bridges as part of the cityscape. Not just bridges over (troubled) water, but bridges that have to open up so that barges and big nauti-​cool vessels can pass through comfortably.
Some of these bridges lift up like this: l=l
Some of the bridges lift up like this: /​\
Get it?
If not, I’ll use my words: Some of the bridges lift sections of street straight up so as to allow the boats to pass; they lift vertically and the section of the street that cars drive over is simply lifted up to allow for ships that boast height to pass. The other type of draw bridge I’ve seen in MKE is the variety that our bridge in focus is: two big panels that lift open and reach to the skies allowing vessels both tall and wide to pass through. They seem so huge when drawn, but then, just like that, they come back down and lock into place, allowing cars, bikes, and pedestrians safe passage over zee river.
Yes, it sucks to get stuck at one of these bridges. BUT YOU KNOW WHAT? As far as bridges such as these go, it can be worse. I much prefer our «panel» style draw bridge to the lift-​y street section type. Also, both of them beat waiting for a train, so there’s that. A-​OK and on a main drag, I give this, Milwaukee’s most encountered draw bridge, three big stars.
If you’re fast and aren’t too close to the bridge itself, you can deek around it and hit the other bridge before it goes up. Bonus!
INSIDER INFO: This drawbridge goes up EVERY DAY at approximately 10:52am.
Drops knowledge, drops mic.
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ADDENDUM: (from Jerry M, who dropped more knowledge my way via compliment)
Lift bridges are called, well, lift bridges.
The other type is known as a bascule bridge because of its operation. There are giant counterweights underground that facilitate the «draw.»

Everything Rachel said? Check.
Amazing bridges? Check.
Three rivers? Check.
Three rivers? Yup. Milwaukee is built on three rivers that figured prominently in the history of the city. Solomon Juneau founded Juneautown east of the Milwaukee River. Byron Kilbourn founded Kilbourntown west of the river. The rivalry was so intense that Juneau and Kilbourn laid out their street grids differently. The lasting legacy of their rivalry is bridges that cross the Milwaukee River on a skewed angle to match up with the mis-​aligned streets.
There are, by my count which could be wrong, 25 movable bridges that cross the three rivers. Some no longer open, like the Holton Street Viaduct, which has a «Marsupial Bridge» attached that is used for bicycles and pedestrians. The beautiful old Chicago & Northwestern Bridge, east of this bridge, is attached to tracks that go nowhere, and it is parked in the open position.
My favorite movable bridge is the Cherry Street Bridge, with it’s beautiful Art Deco control towers, built with stainless steel and glass block. It’s especially attractive at night when the bridge is lit.
At one time, the Milwaukee River was not much of a place to be, but over the years, it has been cleaned up and is a source of great civic pride. The river is used for recreation and a river walk makes it a great destination. Check it out!