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BNSF 15th Avenue Bridge (Dinkytown)

Through and Deck Girder Bridge over 15th Avenue
Dinkytown, Minneapolis, Hennepin County, Minnesota

Click the Photo Above to See All Photos of This Bridge!
Name BNSF 15th Street Bridge (Dinkytown)
Built By (Northern Spans) Chicago, Minneapolis, St. Paul & Omaha Railway
Built By (Southern Spans) Great Northern Railroad
Contractor Unknown
Currently Owned By BNSF Railway
Length 81 Feet Total, 52 Foot Main Span
Width 10 Tracks, 8 In Use
Height Above Ground 13 Feet (Estimated)
Superstructure Type Through Girder, Deck Girder and Concrete Slab
Substructure Type Steel Tower and Concrete
Date Built 1921
Traffic Count 30 Trains/Day (Estimated)
Current Status In Use
BNSF Bridge Number E8.8
Significance Local Significance


This bridge is a notable structure in the Dinkytown campus of the University of Minnesota.
The bridge features two types of spans. The northern spans feature a through girder main span, built by the Omaha Road. The south spans feature a deck girder main span and were built by Great Northern.
All spans feature concrete slab approaches, with steel and concrete substructures.
This bridge is also part of the end of the East Minneapolis Yard, which is a joint Union Pacific and BNSF Yard.

Overall, the bridge is also a structural concern. The bridge has severe corrosion and deterioration of the piers and girders.

The author has ranked this bridge as being locally significant, due to the common design.
The photo above is an overview of the southern spans.

Citations

Source Type

Source

Build Date 1961 Great Northern Bridge Records at the Minnesota Historical Society
Railroad Line History Source ICC Valuation Information, Compiled by Richard S. Steele