The Franklin Street Bridge over the Chicago River was built in 1919. It connects the Near North Side with "The Loop." The bridge was featured prominently in the 2005 film Batman Begins as the bridge that connects Gotham City with the Narrows. Downtown buildings line the Chicago River The Chicago River is 156 miles (251 km) long, and flows through downtown Chicago. ... Year 1919 (MCMXIX) was a common year starting on Wednesday (link will display the full calendar). ... The Loop is what locals call the historical center of downtown Chicago. ... This article is about the edifice (including an index to articles on specific bridge types). ... Batman Begins is a 2005 superhero film based on the fictional DC Comics character Batman. ...