Northern Pacific-BNSF Minneapolis Rail Bridge
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2025}}
{{Use American English|date=January 2025}}
{{Infobox Bridge
|bridge_name=Northern Pacific-BNSF Minneapolis Rail Bridge
|image=Northern_Pacific-BNSF_Minneapolis_Rail_Bridge.jpg
|image_size=300px
|caption=
|official_name=
|crosses=Mississippi River
|carries=One track of the BNSF Railway
|locale=Minneapolis, Minnesota
|design=Seven plate girder spans and one through-truss span
|mainspan={{convert|192|ft}}
|length={{convert|821|ft}}
|width=Two tracks
|below={{convert|27|ft}}
|open=1884
|maint=BNSF Railway
|id=12.1
|coordinates= {{coord|45|00|16|N|93|16|28|W|region:US_type:landmark|display=inline,title}}
}}
Northern Pacific-BNSF Minneapolis Rail Bridge is a combination plate girder bridge and truss bridge that spans the Mississippi River in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
It was built in 1884 by the Northern Pacific Railway. The bridge was originally built in 1884 with five through-trusses. In 1927, it was renovated with nine plate-girder spans. In 1963, to provide upstream river navigation, two girder spans and three regular piers were removed to make room for a Warren truss span over the main channel, set on two heavier piers. This work took almost two years.
The bridge was originally built to provide access to Northern Pacific's yards just north of downtown Minneapolis. By the 1980s the yards were mostly gone, but the bridge remains as a link to industries located north of downtown that still require rail service by Northern Pacific successor BNSF.
See also
References
- {{cite book
| last = Costello
| first = Mary Charlotte
| authorlink =
| year = 2002
| title = Climbing the Mississippi River Bridge by Bridge, Volume Two: Minnesota
| publisher = Adventure Publications
| location = Cambridge, MN
| isbn = 0-9644518-2-4
}}
- {{cite book
| last = Hofsommer
| first = Don L.
| authorlink =
| year = 2005
| title = Minneapolis and the Age of Railways
| publisher = University of Minnesota Press
| location = Minneapolis, MN
| isbn = 0-8166-4501-9
}}
{{Crossings navbox
|structure = Crossings
|place = Mississippi River
|bridge = Northern Pacific-BNSF Minneapolis Rail Bridge
|bridge signs =
|upstream = Lowry Avenue Bridge
|upstream signs =
|downstream = Broadway Avenue Bridge
|downstream signs =
}}
{{Authority control}}
Category:Bridges in Minneapolis
Category:Bridges over the Mississippi River
Category:Railroad bridges in Minnesota
Category:Bridges completed in 1884
Category:Northern Pacific Railway