Bridgehunter.com | Soo Line - Blanchard Crossing

Photos

Photo taken by Jason Smith

BH Photo #214005

Map

Map Links

Description

The Soo Line Bridge was built in 1909 when the railroad company wanted to build a line from Brooten in west central Minnesota (SW of Sauk Centre) to Duluth/Superior to carry farming and shipping goods. The line was discontinued in 1990 and the bridge was put out of service in 1993. However, an initiative to convert the bridge and railline into a bike trail started in 2005 when the state purchased the right of way and converted the bridge into pedestrian use. The bridge and line were both open to bike traffic in May 2007 and the trail now connects Albany (near St. Cloud) and Duluth/Superior).

Facts

Overview: Warren deck truss bridge over Mississippi River on Soo Line Bike Trail at Blanchard Dam
Location: Royalton, Morrison County, Minnesota
Status: Open to pedestrians
Future prospects: Rails to trails
History: Built in 1909 as part of the line from Brooten to Duluth; railline discontinued in 1993; rehabilitated for recreational use in 2006; reopened as a bike trail in 2007
Railroad: - Soo Line Railroad (SOO)
Design: Warren deck truss
Dimensions: Length of largest span: 103.0 ft.
Total length: 605.0 ft.
Approximate latitude, longitude: +45.86042, -94.35902 (decimal degrees)
45°51'37" N, 94°21'32" W (degrees°minutes'seconds")
Approximate UTM coordinates: 15/394503/5079436 (zone/easting/northing)
Quadrangle map:: Royalton
Inventory number: BH 47583 (Bridgehunter.com ID)

Update Log

November 27, 2012: New photos from John Marvig
August 10, 2012: Updated by John Marvig: Added information
September 19, 2011: New photos from Jason Smith
February 1, 2011: New photos from John Marvig
January 8, 2011: Added by Jason Smith

Sources

Jason Smith - flensburg [dot] bridgehunter [dot] av [at] googlemail [dot] com
John Weeks Highways, Byways, And Bridge Photography - Soo Line Bike Bridge at Blanchard
John Marvig - marvigj27 [at] gmail [dot] com

Soo Line - Blanchard Crossing