BNSF Mississippi River Bridge (North)

Located north of Broadway Avenue in Minneapolis, this large truss and girder bridge is the northern BNSF crossing of the Mississippi River in Minneapolis. The first bridge here was built in 1883 and was a double track Pratt through truss bridge with five 160-foot pin connected Pratt through truss spans set onto stone piers. By 1926, that bridge had become too light, and the western two trusses would be replaced by a single track deck plate girder, utilizing four 80-foot spans. As part of this initial reconstruction, the remaining trusses would be reduced to a single track and strengthened with falsework. This arrangement lasted until 1927, when the remaining trusses were replaced by three double track 105-foot deck plate girder spans and two double track 80-foot deck girder spans on the east end. The western girder spans were double tracked at this time. The spans were fabricated by McClintic-Marshall Company, the substructures were constructed by Widdell Company, and the bridge erected by an unknown firm. The new bridge reused the original stone abutments and three of the stone piers, while reinforcing them with concrete. The remaining new piers were constructed of concrete.

The original 1883 trusses were reused at other locations. The two western spans were reduced to a single track and reused across the Clearwater River at Ahsahka, Idaho (Information provided by the Northern Pacific Railway Historical Society AFE Collection). The remaining three spans were also likely reused elsewhere.

The bridge remained unchanged until 1962, when a navigation project on the Mississippi River resulted in the reconstruction of this bridge. A large riveted 8-panel Warren through truss bridge was added to replace a 105-foot and an 80-foot span. Two additional spans were shifted in the bridge and new concrete piers constructed, giving the bridge its present configuration:
2-80' deck plate girder
1-105' deck plate girder
1-192' riveted Warren through truss
1-80' deck plate girder
1-105' deck plate girder
2-80' deck plate girder

Railroads were often creative with how they constructed bridges. Such is the case here, where the original truss bridge was replaced in two stages; and when the bridge was reconstructed in 1962, and spans were shifted to minimize new material. Overall, the bridge appears to be in fair to poor condition, with significant deterioration seen in the girder superstructures. Currently, only one track is in use on the bridge. Long term plans would acquire this bridge if it was ever abandoned by BNSF. Currently, the line only serves the cement plant to the northwest of this bridge. The author has ranked this bridge as being regionally significant, due to the unique history.