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BNSF 4th Street Bridge (Middle)

Concrete Encased Deck Girder Bridge over 4th Street
Saint Paul, Ramsey County, Minnesota

Click the Photo Above to See All Photos of This Bridge!
Name BNSF 4th Street Bridge (Middle)
Built By Great Northern Railway
Contractor Unknown
Currently Owned By BNSF Railway
Length 50 Feet Total
Width 6 Tracks, 2 In Use
Height Above Ground 13 Feet (Estimated)
Superstructure Type Concrete Encased Deck Girder
Substructure Type Stone Masonry
Date Built 1902
Traffic Count 50 Trains/Day (Estimated)
Current Status In Use
Significance Local Significance


This structure was the Great Northern Mainlines crossing of 4th Street. Immediately after crossing this bridge, the GN would transfer to the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy.
The bridge was built in 1902, and later encased in concrete as a fire retardant method.
The bridge sits on stone abutments, and appears to be in fair condition. It is one of only a few concrete encased spans around the Twin Cities region.
It is also believed that all six of the tracks on the bridge were built for Great Northern.
The bridge also had an additional structure which angled off of the north side at one point. This was removed during a consolidation period between 1970 and 1980.

The author has ranked the bridge as locally significant, because of the build date.
The photo above is an overview.

Citations

Source Type

Source

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