This massive deck girder bridge is the highlight of the Red Jacket Trail.
Located between Rapidan and Skyline, the first bridge at this location was a deck truss and trestle bridge, set onto stone piers.
In 1901, the old bridge would be upgraded by the current bridge, which added concrete risers to the stone piers, and replaced the trusses with deck girders. At a later date, an additional deck girder was added to cross a road (now County Road 1).
Currently, the bridge features a pair of deck girder spans, set onto stone and concrete piers. It is approached by wooden trestle on either side. When the trail was constructed, the original deck girder span was removed for unknown reasons, and replaced with the current bridge.
A failure of the south pier during a period of flooding in 2010 resulted in the south span being placed on the ground and the original pier demolished. It was replaced with a replica pier in 2011, and reopened.
Overall, the bridge appears to be in good condition. It is a landmark in the area, and a must see site in southern Minnesota.
The author has ranked the bridge as being moderately significant, due to the large scale design of the girders.
The photo above is an overview.