Northern Pacific Bridge Number 9

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Northern Pacific Bridge #9
Bridge #9 as seen from the river flats on the west bank of the Mississippi.
Carries	Bike and pedestrian lanes; formerly two railroad tracks
Crosses	Mississippi River
Locale	Minneapolis, Minnesota
Maintained by	City of Minneapolis
ID number	94246
Design	Truss bridge
Longest span	245 feet
Total length	952 feet
Width	24 feet
Clearance below	39 feet
Opening date	1924
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Northern Pacific Bridge #9 is a deck truss bridge that spans the Mississippi River in Minneapolis, Minnesota, between the Seven Corners area and the University of Minnesota campus. It was built in 1924 and was designed by Frederick W. Cappelen. Railroad use of the bridge ended in 1981, and in 1999 the bridge was converted to recreational use.

The Northern Pacific Railway tracks once formed the southern boundary of the University of Minnesota East Bank campus. but as the University grew, the campus expanded around the railroad. The railroad noise, congestion, and pollution caused problems around the campus. In response, the Northern Pacific Railway built a new bridge that angled north of the campus, connecting with an existing railroad line going through Dinkytown. This enabled campus expansion and allowed the Northrop Mall to be built.

Today, the bridge is open to bicyclists and pedestrians. On the west side, there is a connection to the West River Road trail. On the east side, the bridge terminates near the Mineral Resources Research Center. Historic markers on either side of the bridge describe how the bridge was built and its importance to the area.

On the south side of the deck, the words "North Coast Lime" can be seen. It formerly read North Coast Limited to advertise the Chicago to Seattle passenger train of that name.

[edit] See also

List of crossings of the Upper Mississippi River

[edit] References

Costello, Mary Charlotte (2002). Climbing the Mississippi River Bridge by Bridge, Volume Two: Minnesota. Cambridge, MN: Adventure Publications. ISBN 0-9644518-2-4.
Weeks, John (2005). Northern Pacific Bridge #9, Minneapolis, MN. The Bridges Of Minneapolis And St. Paul. Retrieved on 2006-04-19.