Railroad Bridges in Downtown, Minneapolis, Minnesota


Downtown Minneapolis once had numerous railroads operating in the area, with only the Great Northern Railway mainline still in operation by BNSF.

Random Bridges

Stone Arch Bridge

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Stone Arch Bridge

(Great Northern Railway Bridge #U9.9)

The iconic Stone Arch Bridge crosses the Mississippi River below St. Anthony Falls

Downtown, Minneapolis, Hennepin County, Minnesota

Owner: Minnesota Department of Transportation (MNDOT)

Status: Open to trail traffic

Built 1883 and 1962

by

Edward Darragh and Unknown

for

Minneapolis Union Railway

Design:
21 span stone arch and Warren deck truss

Description:
Landmark stone arch bridge over Mississippi River

Significance:

National

BNSF Mississippi River Bridge (North)

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BNSF Mississippi River Bridge (North)

(Northern Pacific Railway Bridge #12.1)

This Warren through truss bridge is the northern BNSF crossing of the Mississippi River in Minneapolis

Downtown, Minneapolis, Hennepin County, Minnesota

Owner: BNSF Railway

Status: In Use

Built 1927 and 1963

by

McClintic-Marshall Corportation of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and Unknown

for

Northern Pacific Railway

Design:
190' Warren through truss, 2-105', 5-80' deck plate girder

Description:
Warren through truss bridge over Mississippi River

Significance:

Regional

CPKC Broadway Avenue Bridge

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CPKC Broadway Avenue Bridge

This through plate girder bridge is one of two parallel bridges across Broadway Avenue at this location

Downtown, Minneapolis, Hennepin County, Minnesota

Owner: Canadian Pacific Kansas City Limited

Status: In Use

Built 1905

by

Unknown

for

Minneapolis, St. Paul & Sault Ste. Marie Railroad

Design:
1-65' through plate girder and 2-22' deck plate girder

Description:
Through plate girder bridge over West Broadway Avenue

Significance:

Local

Northern Pacific Railway Bridge #9

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Northern Pacific Railway Bridge #9

This unique Pratt deck truss bridge was built using trusses from its predecessor

Downtown, Minneapolis, Hennepin County, Minnesota

Owner: City of Minneapolis

Status: Open to Trail Traffic

Built 1885 and reconstructed 1923

by

Edge Moor Bridge Works of Wilmington, Delaware and American Bridge Company of New York

for

Northern Pacific Railway

Design:
2-247' Pratt deck truss, 3-90', 1-85', 1-80' deck plate girder

Description:
Pratt deck truss bridge over Mississippi River

Significance:

High

Boom Island Pedestrian Bridge

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Boom Island Pedestrian Bridge

(Chicago Great Western Railway Bridge #981)

This Pratt through truss bridge has been preserved as a pedestrian bridge

Downtown, Minneapolis, Hennepin County, Minnesota

Owner: City of Minneapolis

Status: Open to trail traffic

Built 1901

by

Butler-Ryan Company of St. Paul, Minnesota and designed by Charles Frederick Lowrth

for

Wisconsin Central Railway

Design:
175' pin connected Pratt through truss

Description:
Pratt through truss bridge over East Channel of Mississippi River

Significance:

Regional

Third Avenue Bridge

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Third Avenue Bridge

This large concrete arch bridge crosses the Mississippi River above St. Anthony Falls

Downtown, Minneapolis, Hennepin County, Minnesota

Owner: Minnesota Department of Transportation

Status: Open to Automobile Traffic

Built 1917

by

Unknown

for

City of Minneapolis and Twin Cities Rapid Transit Company

Design:
8 span open spandrel concrete arch

Description:
Concrete arch bridge over Mississippi River

Significance:

Moderate

Nicollet Island Railroad Bridge

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Nicollet Island Railroad Bridge

(Great Northern Railway Bridge #10.9)

This large Baltimore through truss and deck girder bridge crosses the Mississippi River on the west side of Nicollet Island

Downtown, Minneapolis, Hennepin County, Minnesota

Owner: BNSF Railway

Status: Open to Traffic

Built 1893, 1924 and 1963

by

American Bridge Company of New York and Unknown

for

Great Northern Railway

Design:
171' riveted Baltimore through truss and deck plate girder

Description:
Baltimore through truss bridge over Mississippi River

Significance:

Moderate

BNSF East Channel Bridge

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BNSF East Channel Bridge

(Great Northern Railway Bridge #1)

This deck plate girder bridge crosses the east channel of the Mississippi River at Nicollet Island

Downtown, Minneapolis, Hennepin County, Minnesota

Owner: BNSF Railway

Status: Open to Traffic

Built 1893 and 1924

by

Unknown and Wisconsin Bridge & Iron Company of North Milwaukee, Wisconsin

for

Great Northern Railway

Design:
3-76' twinned deck plate girder spans

Description:
Deck plate girder bridge over East Channel of Mississippi River

Significance:

Local

Abandoned East Channel Bridge

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Abandoned East Channel Bridge

(Chicago Great Western Railway Bridge #980)

This long abandoned curved deck plate girder bridge crosses the east channel of the Mississippi River

Downtown, Minneapolis, Hennepin County, Minnesota

Owner: City of Minneapolis

Status: Closed to all traffic

Built 1901

by

American Bridge Company (Lassig Branch of Chicago)

for

Wisconsin Central Railway

Design:
Curved 3 span deck plate girder

Description:
Abandoned deck plate girder bridge over East Channel of Mississippi River

Significance:

Local

BNSF Broadway Avenue Bridge

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BNSF Broadway Avenue Bridge

(Northern Pacific Railway Bridge #12)

This through plate girder bridge is one of two parallel bridges across Broadway Avenue at this location

Downtown, Minneapolis, Hennepin County, Minnesota

Owner: BNSF Railway

Status: In Use

Built 1927

by

Unknown

for

Northern Pacific Railway

Design:
1-65' and 2-22' through plate girder

Description:
Through plate girder bridge over West Broadway Avenue

Significance:

Local