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| Name | Cedar Bend Drawbridge |
| Built By | Minneapolis, St. Paul & Sault Ste. Marie Railroad |
| Currently Owned By | Canadian National Railway |
| Superstructure Contractor | Wisconsin Bridge & Iron Company of North Milwaukee, Wisconsin Unknown |
| Unknown | |
| Length | 680 Feet Total, 286 Foot Swing Span |
| Width | 1 Track |
| Height Above Ground | 20 Feet (Estimated) |
| Superstructure Design | Warren Through Truss and Steel Stringer |
| Substructure Design | Stone Masonry and Concrete |
| Date Built | 1913, Approaches Built 1954 |
| Date Rehabilitated | 2015 |
| Traffic Count | 1 Train/Day (Estimated) |
| Current Status | In Use |
| Significance | Regional Significance |
| Documentation Date | 4/29/2012; 9/7/2015 |
ln In 1887, the Minneapolis and St. Croix Railway (M&StC) constructed 36 miles of new railroad between Shoreham, Minnesota and the St. Croix River near Osceola, Wisconsin. The line connected to ongoing Minneapolis, St. Paul & Sault Ste. Marie Railway (Soo Line) construction in Wisconsin. In 1888, 5 additional miles of new railroad would be constructed from Cardigan Junction to Soo Line Junction in St. Paul (near present day Arlington Avenue and Jackson Street). The M&StC would be purchased by the Soo Line in 1888. In 1890, a one mile extension would be constructed from the Northern Pacific Railway and Great Northern Railway tracks, across the Mississippi River to Camden Junction. In 1899, a new spur was built along the west bank of the Mississippi River to reach downtown Minneapolis. An additional extension would be made to Seventh Street in St. Paul in 1909. A new cutoff was constructed in 1911 between the Mississippi River Bridge and Central Avenue. By 1937, the Soo Line had entered bankruptcy, and it would be reorganized as the Minneapolis, St. Paul & Sault Ste. Marie Railroad in 1944.
By 1961, the Soo Line would be merged with other CP subsidiaries Duluth,
South Shore & Atlantic Railroad and Wisconsin Central Railroad to
form Soo Line Railroad, a company controlled by CP. In 1981, the southern mile from Soo Line Junction to Seventh Street would be abandoned. In 1984, the Soo
Line would be reorganized as the Soo Line Corporation, and the railroad
would be fully merged into CP in 1990. In 2023, CP would merge with Kansas City Southern Railway to form CPKC, which currently operates this route. The Minneapolis to Withrow segment of the line is known as the Withrow Subdivision.
Located in a rural area between Marine on St. Croix, Minnesota and Osceola, Wisconsin, this swing bridge crosses the St. Croix River. The first bridge was constructed here in 1887, and likely utilized a wooden swing span. In 1913, that span would be replaced by a new steel swing span. This swing span would be 286 feet long, and consist of two halves comprised of riveted 6-panel Warren through trusses. The halves would be joined at the center pier utilizing a steel tower. The swing span was reportedly designed by the chief engineer of the Wisconsin Central Railway, a railroad leased by the Soo Line. The original trestle approaches of the bridge would be replaced in 1954 by new steel stringer spans, set onto concrete piers. Nine steel stringer spans approach the bridge on the east end, and one on the west end.
It is unknown how frequently the turn mechanism on this bridge was used, or when river navigation was closed. Currently, the swing span is welded shut, converting it to a fixed span. However, much of the original machinery remains on the span. It was likely powered by a T-shaped key, inserted into a slot at one end of the span. This style of swing span was commonly used where river traffic did not warrant a diesel or electric powered mechanism. Overall, the bridge appears to be in fair to good condition, with no significant deterioration noted. A rehabilitation in 2015 encased the original stone piers with concrete. The author has ranked this bridge as being regionally significant, due to the swing span and truss design.
Citations
| Builder and build date (Main Span) | Soo Line Historical and Technical Society |
| Builder (Approaches) | Historic Aerial Imagery |
| Railroad History Citation | ICC Valuation Information, Compiled by Richard S. Steele |