BNSF 15th Avenue Bridge

Dinkytown, Minneapolis, Hennepin County, Minnesota

Default pic
Looking east
Overview of north tracks
Overview of north tracks
Overview of west pier of north track
Underneath north tracks
Underneath approach
Underneath south track
Spalling on south track approach
West abutment
Looking east
Great Northern herald
Overview
South track main span
West pier, south track
East abutment
South track, east approach
Under south track spans
Under north track spans
Overview of north tracks
Overview of north tracks
Overview of north tracks
East span, north tracks
West pier, north tracks
Looking west
Pier base
Severe corrosion on pier
Under bridge
Date stamp
Overview
East approach, south track
Under south track

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Default Pic
Looking east
Overview of north tracks
Overview of north tracks
Overview of west pier of north track
Underneath north tracks
Underneath approach
Underneath south track
Spalling on south track approach
West abutment
Looking east
Great Northern herald
Overview
South track main span
West pier, south track
East abutment
South track, east approach
Under south track spans
Under north track spans
Overview of north tracks
Overview of north tracks
Overview of north tracks
East span, north tracks
West pier, north tracks
Looking west
Pier base
Severe corrosion on pier
Under bridge
Date stamp
Overview
East approach, south track
Under south track
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Date Taken:
Author:
Caption:
Name BNSF 15th Avenue Bridge
Built By Great Northern Railway
Chicago, St. Paul, Minneapolis & Omaha Railway
Currently Owned By BNSF Railway
Superstructure Contractor Unknown
Length 82 Feet Total, 52 Foot Main Span
Width 9 Tracks (6 In Use)
Height Above Ground 13 Feet 0 Inches
Superstructure Type Deck plate girder, through plate girder and concrete slab
Substructure Type Concrete and steel bent
Date Built 1918 and 1921
Traffic Count 50 Trains/Day (Estimated)
Current Status Open to Traffic
Significance Local Significance
Documentation Date 3/26/2014; 4/4/2015
In 1862, the First Division of The St. Paul and Pacific Railroad Company constructed the first railroad in Minnesota, a 10 mile route between St. Paul, Minnesota and Minneapolis (St. Anthony), Minnesota. The railroad quickly spurred growth throughout the Twin Cities, and was extended north and west during the following years. In 1879, the railroad was purchased by the James J. Hill controlled St. Paul, Minneapolis & Manitoba Railway (StPM&M). This route became one of the heaviest used routes on the StPM&M system. By 1907, the StPM&M would be purchased by another James J. Hill railroad, the Great Northern Railway (GN). Great Northern connected to Seattle and Portland on the West Coast, and to the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad (CB&Q) in St. Paul. In 1970, GN merged with rival Northern Pacific Railway and the CB&Q to form Burlington Northern Railroad. BN was in turn merged with Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railway in 1996, to form BNSF Railway. BNSF currently operates this line as the Midway Subdivision, the southern of two parallel BNSF main lines through the Twin Cities.

Located on the north edge of the University of Minnesota campus, little is known about this girder bridge that carries the BNSF and Union Pacific yard tracks over 15th Avenue Southeast. Originally built in 1891, the southern portion of the bridge was rebuilt in 1921. The bridge features two distinct sections, a through plate girder section (the Omaha Road section), and the deck plate girder section (the Great Northern section). The Omaha Road section consists of a single through plate girder span built in 1918, approached by concrete slab spans. The Great Northern section consists of a single deck plate girder span, approached by a concrete slab span on each end. The Great Northern section was built in 1921. The bridge sits on steel piers and concrete abutments. Overall, the bridge appears to be in poor condition, with deterioration seen throughout the structure. The author has rated the bridge as locally significant, due to the common design. Research of this bridge is ongoing.

Citations

Build Date National Bridge Inventory (NBI)
Railroad History Citation ICC Valuation Information, Compiled by Richard S. Steele