CPKC 31st Avenue Bridge

In 1864, the Minnesota Central Railway built a short line extending along the West Bank of the Mississippi River from Minneapolis, Minnesota to Mendota, Minnesota. The line crossed the Minnesota River at Fort Snelling. In 1865, the Minnesota Valley Railroad Company and Minnesota Central jointly constructed a 6 mile route from Mendota to St. Paul, including a jointly owned bridge across the Mississippi River near Lilydale that would be completed in 1869. The Minnesota Central conveyed the Mendota to Minneapolis line to the McGregor Western Railway Company in 1867, which in turn was purchased by the Milwaukee and St. Paul Railway Company (M&StP). In 1870, the Minnesota Valley would be purchased by the St. Paul and Sioux City Railroad (StP&SC). In 1874, the M&StP would change its name to the Chicago, Milwaukee and St. Paul Railway Company (CM&StP) in 1874. Known as the Milwaukee Road, the railroad was beginning to amass a large collection of railroads throughout Wisconsin, Minnesota and Iowa. In 1881, the StP&SC would be sold to the Chicago, St. Paul, Minneapolis & Omaha Railway (CStPM&O), also known as the Omaha Road. The Omaha Road would come under control of the Chicago & North Western Railway (C&NW) the next year.

By 1880, the line between St. Paul and Mendota had become congested with numerous trains per day. As a result, the Milwaukee Road began a project to construct a direct route between Minneapolis and St. Paul. Known as the "Short Line", this route required a large bridge across the Mississippi River just north of present day Lake Street. The line would be completed in 1881, greatly reducing the distance and time needed to travel between Minneapolis and St. Paul. As a result, the original line lost importance, and would be downgraded. Upgrades were made to the route between 1885 and 1900, including additional tracks, and a new larger bridge over the Mississippi River. Further upgrades were made between 1913 and 1915, when the line in Minneapolis was grade separated and widened. The Milwaukee Road was often in financial trouble, especially after the costly Pacific Extension was completed in 1909. In 1925, the company declared bankruptcy, and reorganized as the Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul and Pacific Railroad in 1928. In 1957, the Milwaukee Road abandoned the segment between Mendota and Fort Snelling, including the Minnesota River Bridge. The Milwaukee Road again struggled financially in the 1970s, with another bankruptcy in 1977. By 1985, a suitor for the Milwaukee Road was being sought, and the Soo Line Railroad, controlled by Canadian Pacific Railway (CP) purchased the Milwaukee Road in 1986. Today, CPKC continues to operate the remaining track of this route, along with joint operations between St. Paul and Mendota with the Union Pacific Railroad, successor of the C&NW. The Midtown Greenway utilizes a portion of the railroad in Minneapolis, and is currently planning on reusing the Mississippi River Bridge in Minneapolis should rail service cease.