| Washington Avenue Bridge | |
|---|---|
 The Washington Avenue Bridge in Minneapolis, looking south from NP Bridge #9 |
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| Carries | Four lanes of County Road 122 on the lower deck, bicycles and pedestrians on the upper deck |
| Crosses | Mississippi River |
| Locale | Minneapolis, Minnesota |
| Maintained by | Minnesota Department of Transportation |
| ID number | 9360 |
| Design | Plate girder bridge |
| Longest span | 251 feet |
| Total length | 1130 feet |
| Width | Four lanes of traffic |
| Clearance below | 70 feet |
| Opening date | 1965 |
| Bridges over the Mississippi in Minneapolis/St. Paul. Washington Ave. is about center on this image, between N. Pacific Bridge #9 and I-94 |
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| Coordinates | |
The Washington Avenue Bridge carries County Road 122 across the Mississippi River in Minneapolis, Minnesota and connects the East Bank and West Bank portions of the University of Minnesota's main campus. The bridge is unique for being a double-decker bridge, with the lower portion designated for road traffic and the upper level used for pedestrians and bicycles (lanes specifically for bikes are on the north side). It is a utilitarian structure with simple architecture, but it has cultural significance because thousands of students, faculty, staff, and visitors walk across it every day.
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History
An iron truss bridge was first built here in 1884, slightly upstream from the current location (connecting Washington Avenue on both sides of the river). At the time of construction, many people lived in the river flats area below, a neighborhood known as Bohemian Flats (See photo below). The bridge was strengthened in 1890 to accommodate streetcars, and it made up part of the first interurban line between Minneapolis and neighboring Saint Paul (see Twin City Rapid Transit). Streetcar service ended by 1954 and the aging structure was set for the chopping block as the current bridge began construction in 1962. It was torn down in 1965.
This first structure was a straight east-west bridge carrying Washington Avenue, which continued directly into downtown. The new bridge aimed the west end slightly to the south, so Washington Avenue is now disjointed at that point. Continuing straight along the roadway will carry a vehicle into downtown along a short freeway-like section that meets 3rd Street South (a one-way—returning involves traveling along 4th Street). The roadway between Interstate 35W in the west and University Avenue in the east, which includes the bridge, was once designated as Minnesota State Highway 122, but that ended in 1997 when Hennepin County took over control of the roadway from the Minnesota Department of Transportation. Returning to Washington Avenue after crossing the bridge requires taking the first exit upon reaching the west side, or turning north after reaching downtown. The top deck on the new bridge was originally just a flat space. Traversing the bridge in the harshness of winter was very uncomfortable, so an enclosure running down the center of the pedestrian area was added by the 1970s. Originally meant to be a heated indoor pedestrian area, due to energy cost concerns, the walkway is mostly unheated. There are some heaters inside that keep the area slightly warmer than outside, but it can still dip below the freezing point. The structure also adds a windbreak for the top level, improving conditions for people who choose to walk outside. In the summer, large overhangs also provide some shade.
At least one designer had much grander plans. Winston Close, an adviser from the university to the architectural team, envisioned modeling the top level on the Ponte Vecchio bridge in Florence, Italy. This would have included shops, making the bridge a place to stay rather than just get across. Some effort has been put into making the site a more inviting place. The addition of the upper deck enclosure led to an annual artistic event held on the first few days of classes, where organizations of all stripes can put their brushes to panels lining the interior. While most are self-promotional messages from campus groups, some of the panels always show impressive designs. The exterior of the bridge had been a rather drab combination of brown and gray for most of its existence. Some felt that it was off-balance in its university surroundings, especially after the Frank Gehry-designed Weisman Art Museum went into place next to the east end in the 1980s. University President Mark Yudof led a "Take Pride in U" campaign in 1997 where the top level was painted in the school colors of maroon and gold. Later, in the early 2000s decade, the superstructure was also painted over the course of about two years. This had to be arranged with Hennepin County, which owns the bridge. The resulting makeover is much more visually appealing. It took such a long time because the old paint contained lead and had to be carefully removed.
A darker facet of the bridge's history is its association with suicide. Poet and university professor John Berryman is the most famous person to have killed himself at the site, when he fell from the bridge in 1972. About a half-dozen others have also died by landing in the river or on the flats area. It is also thought by many that this bridge is haunted by one or more ghosts. Many students have reported experiencing unexplained sounds of footsteps behind them, cold spots, and other phenomena.
Future
The bridge will probably be replaced or significantly altered in the coming decades. In particular, plans for a new Central Corridor transit link to Saint Paul must take this span into account. A June, 2007 report showed that the bridge was not capable of physically supporting the light rail system proposed for the planned Central Corridor light rail line [1]. Additionally, adding rails to the crossing (which would probably lead into a tunnel under the university campus) would be a significant undertaking.
See also
References
- Peter Ritter (February 24, 1999). Water Under a Troubled Bridge. City Pages.
- Scott F. Anfinson (1989). Archaeology of the Central Minneapolis Riverfront. The Minnesota Archaeologist, Vol. 48, No. 1-2. Minnesota Historical Society.
- Steve Riner Details of Routes 101-149. Unofficial Minnesota Highways Page.
- Erin Ghere (March 29, 1999). Bridge repainting project causes traffic concerns. The Minnesota Daily.
- Costello, Mary Charlotte (2002). Climbing the Mississippi River Bridge by Bridge, Volume Two: Minnesota. Cambridge, MN: Adventure Publications. ISBN 0-9644518-2-4.
| Bridges of the Mississippi River | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Upstream Northern Pacific Bridge Number 9 |
Washington Avenue Bridge |
Downstream Dartmouth Bridge  |
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