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UP - St. Paul Lift Bridge

Ramsey County, Minnesota

Photos 

This bridge is located immediately west of the Robert Street Bridge, visible at the extreme right. This picture was taken looking north toward downtown St. Paul.

Photo taken by Robert Elder in May 2006

Enlarge

BH Photo #111992

Map 

Street View 

Facts 

Overview
Vertical lift bridge over Mississippi River on the Union Pacific Railroad in St. Paul
Location
St. Paul, Ramsey County, Minnesota
Status
Open to traffic
Future prospects
Slated for demolition and replacement! Section 106 and US Coast Guard permitting in progress as of September 2021!
History
Built 1913 replacing a swing bridge, raised 1925, rebuilt over Warner Road 1956
Builders
- American Bridge Co. of New York (1913 Fabrication)
- Bethlehem Steel Co. of Bethlehem, Pennsylvania (1925 Fabrication)
- Gustaf Widell & Co. of Mankato, Minnesota (Substructure)
- Waddell & Harrington of Kansas City, Missouri (Lift Design)
Railroads
- Chicago & North Western Railway (CNW)
- Chicago Great Western Railway (CGW)
- Union Pacific Railroad (UP)
Design
7 Spans DPG (80' each)
1 Lift Span (192')
1 DPG
3 I-Beam
Dimensions
Length of largest span: 192.0 ft.
Total length: 940.0 ft.
Also called
CNW - Mississippi River Bridge
St. Paul Vertical Lift Railroad Bridge
CGW - Mississippi River Bridge
CGW - Lift Bridge
Robert Street Lift Bridge
St. Paul Union Pacific Vertical Lift Rail Bridge
Approximate latitude, longitude
+44.94392, -93.08821   (decimal degrees)
44°56'38" N, 93°05'18" W   (degrees°minutes'seconds")
Approximate UTM coordinates
15/493040/4976724 (zone/easting/northing)
Quadrangle map:
Saint Paul East
Inventory number
BH 36303 (Bridgehunter.com ID)

Categories 

American Bridge Co. (1,681)
Beam (17,114)
Bethlehem Steel Co. (154)
Built 1913 (923)
Built during 1910s (10,078)
Chicago & North Western Railway (1,453)
Chicago Great Western Railway (201)
Deck girder (6,402)
Doomed (1,078)
Girder (11,350)
Gustaf Widell & Co. (11)
Have street view (29,909)
Minnesota (1,658)
Mississippi River (233)
Movable (3,157)
Navigable waterway (2,224)
Open (41,207)
 Owned by railroad (13,731)
Plate girder (8,879)
Pratt through truss (6,232)
Pratt truss (10,544)
Railroad (16,666)
Ramsey County, Minnesota (79)
Riveted (2,644)
Span Drive Vertical Lift (90)
Span length 175-250 feet (2,095)
St. Paul, Minnesota (61)
Steel stringer (6,808)
Through truss (17,897)
Total length 500-1000 feet (3,134)
Truss (36,810)
Union Pacific Railroad (2,484)
Vertical lift (431)
Waddell & Harrington (48)

Update Log 

  • September 28, 2021: Updated by Nathan Holth: This bridge is now doomed.
  • September 6, 2019: Updated by Luke: Added builder
  • April 4, 2018: New photos from John Marvig
  • April 9, 2017: New photos from Dave King
  • May 16, 2016: New Street View added by Douglas Butler
  • December 27, 2015: New photo from Charles Kuehn
  • December 10, 2015: New Street View added by Douglas Butler
  • November 4, 2015: New photo from Douglas Butler
  • August 20, 2015: New photo from Douglas Butler
  • October 4, 2014: New photo from Douglas Butler
  • September 17, 2013: New photo from Luke Harden
  • August 28, 2013: New photo from Douglas Butler
  • January 5, 2013: Updated by John Marvig: added builders
  • March 23, 2012: Updated by Luke Harden: Added category "Chicago Great Western Railway"
  • September 27, 2011: New photos from Jason Smith
  • April 11, 2011: Updated by Frank Hicks: Changed name, added date built
  • February 22, 2008: Added by Robert Elder

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Sources 

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