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| Name | OTVR I-94 Bridge |
| Built By | Northern Pacific Railway |
| Currently Owned By | Otter Tail Valley Railroad |
| Superstructure Contractor | Bethlehem Steel Company of Bethlehem, Pennsylvania |
| Substructure Contractor | John Dieseth Company of Fergus Falls, Minnesota |
| Length | 368 Feet Total, 110 Foot Largest Span |
| Width | 1 Track |
| Height Above Ground | 20 Feet (Estimated) |
| Superstructure Type | Through plate girder |
| Substructure Type | Concrete |
| Date Built | 1961 |
| Traffic Count | Less than 1 Train/Day (Estimated) |
| Current Status | Open to Traffic |
| NP Bridge Number | 51 |
| OTVR Bridge Number | 52.0 |
| Significance | Local Significance |
| Documentation Date | 3/29/2013 |
In 1881, the Northern Pacific, Fergus and Black Hills Railroad (NPF&BH) began construction on a new 75-mile railroad line, extending from Wadena, Minnesota to Breckenridge, Minnesota. The line would be completed by 1882. An additional 42 miles would be completed to Milnor, North Dakota by 1883, and the NPF&BH would be sold to the Northern Pacific Railway (NP) in 1898. By 1900, the NP would complete an additional 33 miles to Oakes, North Dakota in 1900. NP operated this as a secondary route, connecting the main line at Wadena to branch lines in North Dakota. NP operated significant trackage throughout Minnesota, North Dakota and other states.
In 1970, NP would merge with rival Great Northern Railway (GN) and the
Chicago, Burlington & Quincy to form Burlington Northern Railroad
(BN). The line was abandoned between Wadena and Henning in 1975, Henning and Battle Lake in 1978, Foxhome to Breckenridge in 1980 and Battle Lake to Fergus Falls in 1983. In 1987, the Whapeton to Oakes segment was sold to the Red River Valley & Western Railroad (RRVW). In 1996, the remaining trackage near Fergus Falls was sold to the Otter Tail Valley Railroad (OTVR). In 2023, RRVW continues to operate the Whapeton to Oakes segment, while the OTVR continues to operate the tracks in Fergus Falls. The remainder has been abandoned.
Located on the edge of Fergus Falls, this through plate girder bridge carries a spur of the Otter Tail Valley Railroad over Interstate 94. Built in 1961, the bridge features four through plate girder spans, set onto concrete substructures. The girders have rounded edges and are set at a 57-degree right skew, and the piers utilize a large block shape. The bridge is similar in design to other Minnesota Highway Department bridges. Streetview shows that the bridge utilizes a three stringer floorbeam system, with a ballasted deck. Overall, the bridge appears to be in fair condition, with some rust and concrete deterioration. The author has rated the bridge as being locally significant, as the bridge is an excellent example of an early Interstate bridge in Minnesota.
Citations
| Build Date | Bridge Book at the Northern Pacific Railway Historical Association Archives |
| Contractor (Superstructure) | Shop Drawings from MNDOT Electronic Plan Site |
| Contractor (Substructure) | Minnesota Highways April 1962 |
| Railroad History Citation | ICC Valuation Information, Compiled by Richard S. Steele |