Click the photo to view the full-size version
| Name | Soo 37th Avenue Bridge |
| Built By | Minneapolis, St. Paul & Sault Ste. Marie Railroad |
| Currently Owned By | Canadian Pacific Railway (Final Owner) |
| Superstructure Contractor | Unknown |
| Length | 130 Feet Total, 44 Foot Spans |
| Width | 1 Track |
| Height Above Ground | 15 Feet (Estimated) |
| Superstructure Design | Through Plate Girder and Timber Pile Trestle |
| Substructure Design | Timber Pile |
| Date Built | 1907 |
| Date Removed | 2021 |
| Traffic Count | 0 Trains/Day (Bridge has been Removed) |
| Current Status | Removed |
| Significance | Local Significance |
| Documentation Date | 2/8/2014 |
In 1907, the Minneapolis, St. Paul & Sault Ste. Marie Railway (Soo Line) began construction on a new railroad line, extending from the existing mainline at Brooten, Minnesota; to the Twin Ports city of Duluth, Minnesota. The first 87 miles were completed by the end of 1908, with the remaining 100 miles completed in 1909. The Soo Line was a smaller railroad in the Midwest, with routes extending through Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan and North Dakota. It was operated as a subsidiary of Canadian Pacific Railway (CP). This route became a critical connection for the Soo Line, providing a connection between the existing mainline at Brooten and the industries at Duluth. 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 1984, the Soo Line would be reorganized as the Soo Line Corporation, and the railroad would be fully merged into CP in 1990. The segment from Genola to Superior was abandoned in 1990. The segment from Genola to Boyleston was purchased by MNDOT and Douglas County, Wisconsin and converted to the Soo Line Trail. The remainder of the route would be abandoned in 1996, and purchased by Morrison and Stearns Counties for trail use. Today, much of the route has been converted to the Soo Line Trail, and further work is being done in Stearns County to convert the railroad to the Dairyland Trail.
Once located across 37th Avenue near the intersection of Onetoa Street in Duluth, this through plate girder bridge carried the Soo Line. Reportedly built in 1907, the bridge featured a single 44-foot through plate girder span, set onto timber pile piers. The bridge was approached by timber pile trestle spans on either end, and the girder featured rounded edges. This style of bridge was commonly used by railroads throughout the United States, as it was durable and easy to construct. The Soo Line oftentimes used wooden substructures, where other railroads may have used stone or concrete. It is currently unknown if this span was relocated here from another location. Overall, the bridge was in fair to poor condition at the time of removal, with significant deterioration seen in the substructures. The bridge was removed in 2021, and it is unknown if the span was reused. It was offered for sale on Craigslist by the demolition contractor. The author has ranked this bridge as being locally significant, due to the common design.
Citations
| Build Date | National Bridge Inventory (NBI) |
| Railroad History Citation | ICC Valuation Information, Compiled by Richard S. Steele |