Located between 10th and 11th Streets in Austin, this steel stringer bridge crosses Oakland Place (formerly US Highways 16 and 218).
Built in 1934, this was one of the first significant improvements along the rural US Highway System in Minnesota. Originally, US-16 ran between US-20 and US-14 at Yellowstone National Park and US-10 and US-12 in Detroit, Michigan.
In 1962, US-16 was decommissioned in Michigan, having been replaced by I-96. After I-90 through South Dakota, Minnesota and Wisconsin was completed in 1978, US-16 was completely removed from maps in 1980.
The segment through Austin was one of the first divided and "modern" segments of any US Highway in the United States. A number of grade separations were built, including two now demolished concrete frame bridges at 2nd Street and the Chicago Great Western Railroad (now 3rd Street).
The bridge here consists of a two span steel stringer, featuring a ballasted deck and concrete substructures. A sign near the top of the bridge indicates the high water mark from Dobbins Creek and the Cedar River in 2004.
Surprisingly, this bridge features limited decorative features, and appears to be purely functional.
Overall, the bridge appears to be in fair to good condition, with no significant deterioration.
The author has ranked this bridge as being locally significant, due to the common design.
The photo above is an overview.