BNSF Dale Street Bridge

Located on the west side of St. Paul, this through plate girder bridge carries a former Northern Pacific Railway mainline over Dale Street. The first bridge at this location was constructed in 1885, and consisted of four deck plate girder spans, set onto stone abutments and steel bents. As automobiles became larger and more popular in the early 20th Century, it became a priority for the Minnesota Highway Department to improve the crossing. In 1936, contracts were awarded for the replacement of the original bridge, and work was completed later that year. It is possible that spans from the previous bridge were reused at unknown locations. Currently, the bridge consists of an 84-foot through plate girder span, set onto stone and concrete abutments. In addition, the bridge is set at a heavy 26-degree right skew. The superstructure is heavily constructed, consisting of two heavy plate girders, numerous floorbeams, four stringers per track and a ballast deck. The abutments follow a standard design, consisting of stepped wing walls which are placed parallel to the road. The ends of the bridge also rest on concrete abutments, which are set slightly behind the stone abutments. Stone for the abutments consists of a yellow limestone, possibly quarried near Mankato, Minnesota. An unknown contractor fabricated the superstructure, while the stone substructure was constructed by an additional unknown contractor. The Widell Company completed the alterations and additional concrete required for the abutments. Through plate girder spans were popular for railroad use, as they were durable and easy to construct. Since the initial construction, the bridge has seen no significant alterations. Today, the bridge remains in use as part of a heavily used BNSF Railway mainline. Overall, the bridge appears to be in fair condition, with minor deterioration and damage to the structure. The author has ranked the bridge as being locally significant, due to the common design.