10th Avenue Bridge

Last updated
10th Avenue Bridge
Cedar Avenue Bridge Minneapolis.jpg
The 10th Avenue Bridge in Minneapolis
Coordinates 44°58′42″N93°14′38″W / 44.9784°N 93.2438°W / 44.9784; -93.2438
CarriesFour lanes of automobile traffic
Crosses Mississippi River
Locale Minneapolis, Minnesota
Maintained by Minneapolis
ID number 2796 [1]
Characteristics
DesignConcrete rib deck-arch bridge
Total length2,175 feet (663 m)
Width68 feet (21 m)
Longest span266 feet (81 m)
Clearance below 101 feet (31 m)
History
Opened1929
Location
10th Avenue Bridge
Cedar Avenue Bridge
USA Minnesota location map.svg
Red pog.svg
Usa edcp location map.svg
Red pog.svg
LocationTenth Ave. over Mississippi River, Minneapolis, Minnesota
Coordinates 44°58′42″N93°14′38″W / 44.9784°N 93.2438°W / 44.9784; -93.2438 Coordinates: 44°58′42″N93°14′38″W / 44.9784°N 93.2438°W / 44.9784; -93.2438
Area4 acres (1.6 ha)
Built1929 (1929) [2]
ArchitectOustad, Kristoffer Olsen
Architectural styleReinforced-concrete bridge
MPS Reinforced-Concrete Highway Bridges in Minnesota MPS
NRHP reference No. 89001845 [3]
Added to NRHPNovember 6, 1989

The 10th Avenue Bridge crosses the Mississippi River near downtown Minneapolis, Minnesota and also in proximity to the University of Minnesota. [4] [5] The bridge historically was called the Cedar Avenue Bridge from days prior to the construction of the I-35W bridge when it connected to Cedar Ave. [6] The bridge connects 10th Avenue Southeast, on the east side of the Mississippi River to 19th Avenue South, on the west side. The Seven Corners area of the Cedar-Riverside, Minneapolis neighborhood is at the south end of the bridge. The downstream end of the lower Saint Anthony Falls lock and dam extends under the bridge. The historic Southeast Steam Plant is also nearby.

Contents

The bridge is considered the crowning achievement of Minneapolis city engineer Kristoffer Olsen Oustad, who was one of four prominent Norwegian-American men who designed major structures in the region. [7] [8]

History

A bridge known as the "10th Avenue Bridge" was built upstream from the current bridge in 1874. [9] That bridge extended from 10th Avenue South in downtown Minneapolis to 6th Avenue Southeast. It also was known as the "Tenth Avenue wagon bridge". [10] The piers still are visible upstream from the current I-35W Mississippi River bridge. That bridge was demolished in 1943 to provide scrap for the World War II war effort. [9]

Construction on the current bridge began in 1926, and it was completed in 1929. [11] It was built to alleviate the traffic flows on the bridges serving downtown. [6] The total length is 2,174.9 feet (662.9 m), with two central spans each 265.5 feet (80.9 m) across. It has an open spandrel arch design, and it is constructed of reinforced concrete. Higher and longer than any preceding bridge in the region, it was originally 2,921 feet (890 m) in overall length, 698 feet (213 m) longer than the nearby Third Avenue Bridge. It stands 110 feet (34 m) above the water's surface. The budgeted cost of the bridge in 1922 was US$943,209.71. [12] For many years it was the river crossing for Minnesota State Highway 36.

A major restoration was undertaken in 19721976, and the approach spans were altered (they were not considered architecturally significant, even when the bridge was new). [6] The south approach span was relocated to go straight to Washington Avenue.

The bridge was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1989. [13]

Roads in the vicinity were disrupted by the construction of Interstate 35W and a corresponding bridge (completed 1967; collapsed in 2007) one to two blocks upstream. During the days immediately following the I-35W bridge collapse, the 10th Avenue Bridge was closed to traffic, then later reopened; it was one of the most used locations from which to view the wreckage and the recovery efforts.

The bridge was reported to be deteriorating in 2015. [14] It was closed in 2020 to replace the bridge deck and other deteriorating concrete components. [15] It re-opened to traffic and pedestrians in November 2021.

Panorama of the 10th Avenue Bridge, looking northwest Minneapolis-Panorama-2006-10-20.jpg
Panorama of the 10th Avenue Bridge, looking northwest

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Saint Anthony Falls</span> Waterfall in Mississippi River into the Mississippi River Gorge in Minneapolis, Minnesota

Saint Anthony Falls, or the Falls of Saint Anthony located at the northeastern edge of downtown Minneapolis, Minnesota, is the only natural major waterfall on the Mississippi River. Throughout the mid-to-late 1800’s, various dams were built atop the east and west faces of the falls to support the milling industry that spurred the growth of the city of Minneapolis. In 1880, the central face of the falls was reinforced with a sloping timber apron to stop the upstream erosion of the falls. In the 1950s, the apron was rebuilt with concrete, which makes up the most visible portion of the falls today. A series of locks were constructed in the 1950s and 1960s to extend navigation to points upstream.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Stone Arch Bridge (Minneapolis)</span> Bridge crossing the Mississippi river in Minnesota, United States

The Stone Arch Bridge is a former railroad bridge crossing the Mississippi River at Saint Anthony Falls in downtown Minneapolis, Minnesota. It is the only arched bridge made of stone on the entire Mississippi River. It is the second oldest bridge on the river next to Eads Bridge. The bridge was built to connect the railway system to the new Union Depot, which at that time was planned to be built between Hennepin Avenue and Nicollet Avenue. The bridge was completed in 1883, costing $650,000 at the time. 117 Portland Avenue is the general address of the historic complex.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nicollet Island</span> Island on the Mississippi River in central Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA

Nicollet Island is an island in the Mississippi River just north of Saint Anthony Falls in central Minneapolis, Minnesota. According to the United States Census Bureau the island has a land area of 194,407 square metres (0.075 sq mi) and a 2000 census population of 144 persons. The island makes up a large part of the city-designated Nicollet Island/East Bank neighborhood. The island is named for cartographer Joseph Nicollet, who mapped the Upper Mississippi in the 1830s.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Franklin Avenue Bridge</span> Bridge in Minneapolis, Minnesota

The Franklin Avenue Bridge, officially the F.W. Cappelen Memorial Bridge, carries Franklin Avenue over the Mississippi River in Minneapolis, Minnesota. It was designed by Frederick William Cappelen, assisted by Kristoffer Olsen Oustad, both of whom were among four important Norwegian-American engineers working in the region at the time. The reinforced-concrete open-spandrel arched structure was completed in 1923. The bridge's overall length is 1054.7 feet, with a central span of 400 feet. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1978 along with several other area bridges as part of a multiple-property submission. At the time of its completion, the bridge's central span was the longest concrete arch in the world.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Stillwater Bridge (St. Croix River)</span> Bridge in Stillwater, Minnesota

The Stillwater Bridge is a vertical-lift bridge crossing the St. Croix River between Stillwater, Minnesota, and Houlton, Wisconsin. It formerly connected Minnesota State Highway 36 and Wisconsin Highway 64. Around 18,000 vehicles crossed the bridge daily. The new St. Croix Crossing bridge crossing the St. Croix river valley to the south of Stillwater replaced its purpose, having opened to highway traffic on August 2, 2017, leaving the Stillwater Lift Bridge to be preserved and to be converted to bicycle/pedestrian use.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kristoffer Olsen Oustad</span>

Kristoffer Olsen Oustad was a Norwegian-American engineer who designed major structures in the United States. Often working together with three other Norwegian-American engineers he designed bridges and other buildings.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Midtown Greenway</span> Shared-use path in Minneapolis, USA

The Midtown Greenway is a 5.7-mile (9.2 km) rail trail in Minneapolis, Minnesota that follows the path of an abandoned route of the Milwaukee Road railway. It is considered under segregated cycle facilities.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Interstate 35W (Minnesota)</span> Interstate Highway in Minnesota, United States

Interstate 35W (I-35W) is an Interstate Highway in the US state of Minnesota, passing through downtown Minneapolis. It is one of two through routes for I-35 through the Twin Cities of Minneapolis and Saint Paul, the other being I-35E through downtown Saint Paul.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cedar Avenue Bridge (Minnesota River)</span> Bridge in Minnesota, U.S.

The Cedar Avenue Bridge carries Minnesota State Highway 77 across the Minnesota River between the Minneapolis-St. Paul suburbs of Bloomington and Eagan, Minnesota. The two parallel crossings for northbound and southbound lanes are respectively 5,159 feet and 5,185 feet in length. It was built in 1979, superseding an older swing bridge by the same name that was composed of low-lying truss segments. The modern bridge has three lanes in each direction, in addition to a shoulder which is often used by buses to get past traffic slowdowns.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Robert Street Bridge</span> Bridge in St. Paul, Minnesota

The Robert Street Bridge is a reinforced concrete multiple-arch bridge that spans the Mississippi River in downtown Saint Paul, Minnesota, United States. The bridge is notable for its complex design that was required to accommodate river traffic, the St. Paul Union Pacific Vertical-lift Rail Bridge crossing underneath it at an angle, and roadways on the downtown side of St. Paul. The bridge is also notable for a monumental reinforced concrete rainbow arch. The rainbow arch not only provides 62 feet of headroom above the river, but also provides a strong aesthetic focus. It was built in 1924–1926 by Fegles Construction Company, Ltd. and designed by Toltz, King & Day. The bridge was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1989. The bridge as well as Robert Street itself are named after Captain Louis Roberts, a notable French Canadian river boat captain, businessman and early settler of Saint Paul, MN.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Intercity Bridge</span> Bridge in Minneapolis-St. Paul, Minnesota

The Intercity Bridge, more commonly known as the Ford Parkway Bridge, is a reinforced concrete arch bridge that spans the Mississippi River between Minneapolis, Minnesota and St. Paul, Minnesota, United States. It connects 46th Street in Minneapolis with Ford Parkway in Saint Paul. The bridge is historically significant as one of the largest reinforced concrete bridges ever built in Minnesota. It was built in 1925-1927 by James O. Heyworth, Inc. and was designed by Martin Sigvart Grytbak. The Intercity Bridge was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1989. It is notable as one of the monumental concrete rib-arch bridges spanning the high river bluffs along the Mississippi River, along with the Franklin Avenue Bridge, the Third Avenue Bridge, the 10th Avenue Bridge, and the Robert Street Bridge.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dartmouth Bridge</span> Bridge in Minneapolis, Minnesota

The Dartmouth Bridge is a steel girder bridge that spans the Mississippi River in Minneapolis between the Cedar-Riverside area and the University of Minnesota campus area. It carries I-94/US 12/US 52. It was built in 1964 and was designed by Parsons Brinckerhoff, Quade and Douglas. It is named for its proximity to Dartmouth Avenue SE, just north of the bridge.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Anoka–Champlin Mississippi River Bridge</span> Bridge in Anoka and Champlin, Minnesota

The Anoka–Champlin Mississippi River Bridge, also known as the Ferry Street Bridge, is a 10-span open spandrel concrete deck arch bridge that spans the Mississippi River between Anoka and Champlin, Minnesota, United States. It was built in 1929 by the Minneapolis Bridge Company, replacing an 1884 bridge at the same site.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Plymouth Avenue Bridge</span> Bridge in Minneapolis, Minnesota

The Plymouth Avenue Bridge is a segmental bridge that spans the Mississippi River in Minneapolis. It was built in 1983 and was designed by Van Doren-Hazard-Stallings. The construction of this bridge was unique, for it was the first segmental concrete girder bridge built in Minnesota. This method of design uses a "form traveler" that shapes the concrete as it is built out from the piers. This avoided the use of falsework and avoided impeding river traffic. The concrete is also engineered to be salt-resistant by the use of post-tensioning. Tubes run through the concrete structure carrying strands of cable. With tension on the cables, the structure is designed to be under compression. This prevents cracks and hinders the intrusion of salt water. Since then, other bridges in Minnesota have used this construction method, including the I-35W Saint Anthony Falls Bridge in Minneapolis, the Wabasha Street Bridge in downtown St. Paul, and the Wakota Bridge in South St. Paul.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">I-35W Mississippi River bridge</span> Bridge in Minneapolis, Minn., US, that collapsed in 2007

The I-35W Mississippi River bridge was an eight-lane, steel truss arch bridge that carried Interstate 35W across the Mississippi River one-half mile downstream from the Saint Anthony Falls in Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States. The bridge opened in 1967 and was Minnesota's third busiest, carrying 140,000 vehicles daily. It experienced a catastrophic failure during the evening rush hour on August 1, 2007, killing 13 people and injuring 145. The NTSB cited a design flaw as the likely cause of the collapse, noting that an excessively thin gusset plate ripped along a line of rivets, and that additional weight on the bridge at the time contributed to the catastrophic failure.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lamar Boulevard Bridge</span> Historic bridge in Austin, Texas

The Lamar Boulevard Bridge is a historic arch bridge carrying Texas State Highway Loop 343 over Lady Bird Lake in downtown Austin, Texas, United States. The bridge features six open-spandrel concrete arches spanning 659 feet (201 m) and carries tens of thousands of vehicles daily across the lake. Completed in 1942, the Lamar Boulevard Bridge was the second permanent bridge to cross the Colorado River, and one of the last Art Deco-style open-spandrel concrete arch bridges built in Texas. The bridge was named an Austin Landmark in 1993 and added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1994.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Eastman tunnel</span> Collapsed tunnel under the Mississippi River in Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA

The Eastman tunnel, also called the Hennepin Island tunnel, was a 2,000-foot-long (610 m) underground passage in Saint Anthony, Minnesota, dug beneath the Mississippi River riverbed between 1868 and 1869 to create a tailrace so water-powered business could be located upstream of Saint Anthony Falls on Nicollet Island. The tunnel ran downstream from Nicollet Island, beneath Hennepin Island, and exited below Saint Anthony Falls.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">County Road 122 (Hennepin County, Minnesota)</span>

Hennepin County Road 122 (CR 122) or County State-Aid Highway 122 (CSAH 122) is an unsigned county state-aid highway within the city of Minneapolis, Hennepin County, Minnesota, United States, crossing the Mississippi River on the Washington Avenue Bridge.

Cedar Avenue is a roadway that runs from Minneapolis to Northfield in the U.S. state of Minnesota. The roadway is known as Minnesota State Highway 77 in the busiest portion of the route, from Minneapolis to Apple Valley. The portions north and south of this are county roads, Hennepin County 152 and Dakota County 23, respectively. Its northern terminus in Minneapolis is at Washington Avenue in Cedar-Riverside, though its alignment is briefly interrupted by an interchange at Hiawatha Avenue to the south.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">First Avenue Bridge</span> United States historic place

The First Avenue Bridge is a historic structure located in downtown Cedar Rapids, Iowa, United States. It carries U.S. Route 151 for 697 feet (212 m) over the Cedar River. The original six-span concrete arch structure was completed in 1920 for $420,000. It was designed by Marsh Engineering Company and built by Koss Construction Co., both of Des Moines. Consulting engineer Ned L. Ashton of Iowa City designed the 1960s remodel. He had all of the concrete work above the original arches torn out and the bridge rebuilt as an open-spandrel structure. The rebuild also included a wider deck to accommodate increased traffic and aluminum railings. While the bridge's original structural integrity has been compromised, this is the first notable concrete spandrel arch reconstruction in Iowa and possibly in the country. The bridge was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1998.

References

  1. 10th Ave. bridge and water main project. City of Minneapolis, 2019
  2. Engineering News-Record. July 10, 1930.
  3. "National Register Information System  (#89001845)". National Register of Historic Places . National Park Service. July 9, 2010.
  4. Costello, Mary Charlotte (2002). Climbing the Mississippi River Bridge by Bridge, Volume Two: Minnesota. Cambridge, MN: Adventure Publications. ISBN   0-9644518-2-4.
  5. Howard, Needles, Tammen & Bergendoff - Tenth Avenue Bridge. Engineering Report. N.p.: Minnesota Department of Highways, 1968. Copy in MNDOT file for bridge 2796.
  6. 1 2 3 Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT)Local Historic Bridge Report- Abridged, Bridge Number:2796. State of Minnesota Department of Transportation, LHB, Mead & Hunt. September 2014
  7. (1996). Minnesota's Historic Bridges: Cedar Avenue Bridge. Archived 2005-03-12 at the Wayback Machine Minnesota Historical Society.
  8. Bjork, Kenneth - Saga in Steel and Concrete: Norwegian Engineers in America. Northfield, Minn.: Norwegian-American Historical Association, 1947.
  9. 1 2 Millett, Larry - The colorful, confusing history of the two 10th Avenue Bridges in Minneapolis. Star Tribune, June 11, 2021
  10. Stone Arch Bridge and Tenth Avenue wagon bridge, Minneapolis.. Minnesota Historical Society. Photograph dated c1905
  11. SRF, Olson and Nesvold Engineers, and Hess Roise Historical Consultants - 10th Avenue SE River Bridge Rehabilitations Strategies Study. Prepared for the City of Minneapolis Department of Public Works. April 2014
  12. Western Magazine Volume 20, Number 5. United States: E.L. DeLestry, November 1922.
  13. Robert M. Frame III - "The Cedar Avenue Bridge." National Register of Historic Places Nomination Form, 1989.
  14. Sturdevant, Lori - Minnesota's bridges are still out there, aging. Star Tribune May 1, 2015
  15. Harlow, Tim - Road construction season begins with Monday closure of 10th Avenue Bridge in Minneapolis. Star Tribune, March 27, 2020