Click the photo to view the full-size version
| Name | BNSF Lexington Parkway Bridge Northern Pacific Railway Bridge #4.1 |
| Built By | Northern Pacific Railway |
| Currently Owned By | BNSF Railway |
| Length | 50 Feet Total |
| Width | 4 Tracks (2 Tracks in Use) |
| Height Above Ground | 13 Feet |
| Superstructure Type | Closed Spandrel Concrete Arch |
| Substructure Type | Concrete |
| Date Built | 1908 |
| Traffic Count | 50 Trains/Day (Estimated) |
| Current Status | Open to Traffic |
| Northern Pacific Railway Bridge Number | 4.1 |
| BNSF Railway Bridge Number | 4.9 |
| Significance | Moderate Significance |
| Documentation Date | 8/26/2015 |
In 1885, the Saint Paul and Northern Pacific Railway Company (StP&NP) began construction on five separate lines in Minneapolis. Line "A" would extend from Seventh Street in St. Paul to 20th Street in Minneapolis, crossing the Mississippi River twice. Line "B" would extend from St. Anthony Junction (near present day MN-280 and Kasota Avenue) to Northtown Junction. Line "C" would extend along Ramsey Street from Line "A" to Plymouth Avenue. Line "D" consisted of a 1 mile long industrial line along 2nd Street. Line "E" consisted of a connection between Line "A" and Line "C" along Mulberry Street. Work on the five lines would be completed in 1886.
The StP&NP would be purchased by the Northern Pacific Railway (NP) in 1896. NP continued to operate these lines as part of their vast Twin Cities network. Portions of line "C" would be abandoned in the 1960s. In 1970, NP would merge with rival Great Northern Railway and the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy to form Burlington Northern Railroad (BN). Line "E" would be abandoned during the 1970s. Portions of line "A" through downtown Minneapolis were removed during the 1980s, and Bridge #9 was purchased by the City of Minneapolis for trail use. In 1996, BN merged with the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railway to form BNSF Railway. BNSF currently owns line "A" and line "B" as part of the St. Paul Subdivision. The northern portions of Line "A" are also used by BNSF as a spur to serve the Cemstone plant. Lines "C" and "D" have largely been developed, and line "E" has become part of a trail.
Located on the west side of St. Paul, this concrete arch bridge carries the BNSF St. Paul Subdivision over Lexington Parkway. Built in 1908 by St. Paul Division forces to replace a dangerous grade crossing, this bridge features a single 50-foot closed spandrel concrete arch span, set onto concrete substructures. The arch and abutments utilize decorative features, not commonly found on arch bridges like this. It is likely that the decorative features were requested by the City of St. Paul, as this bridge crosses the main road to Como Park. This style of bridge was commonly used by railroads throughout the United States, as it was durable and easy to construct. Overall, the bridge appears to be in fair condition, with some deterioration noted throughout the bridge. The author has ranked this bridge as being moderately significant, due to the unique design.
Citations
| Build Date | St. Paul Division Bridge Book at the Northern Pacific Railway Historical Association Archives |
| Railroad History Citation | ICC Valuation Information, Compiled by Richard S. Steele |