Como Park Footbridge
Photos
View ca. 1914
This historical photo shows the bridge in its prime, before a complete lack of care of this beautiful bridge allowed it to deteriorate.
Source: Vol 28, Contact Record and Engineering Review, 1914
BH Photo #202136
Statement of Significance
Written by Nathan HolthThis bridge is an exceedingly rare example of a concrete arch bridge which is reinforced with solid, built-up beams, as opposed to rebar. This detail is generally found in the oldest of concrete arch bridges and all surviving examples should be assigned a high level of historic and technological significance as they represent the early development of reinforced concrete bridge construction. Despite its great significance, this bridge has been allowed to deteriorate to a very serious condition. The reinforcing is today clearly visible, and the balustrade railings have been lost.
Facts
- Overview
- Melan style open-spandrel arch bridge over Abandoned Light Railroad Line on Pedestrian Walkway
- Location
- Ramsey County, Minnesota
- Status
- Open to pedestrians only
- Builder
- - William S. Hewett & Co. of Minneapolis, Minnesota
- Railroad
- - Twin City Rapid Transit Co. (TCRT; TCL)
- Design
- "Melan" style built-up beam reinforced concrete open spandrel deck arch bridge.
- Approximate latitude, longitude
- +44.97841, -93.14614 (decimal degrees)
44°58'42" N, 93°08'46" W (degrees°minutes'seconds") - Approximate UTM coordinates
- 15/488477/4980561 (zone/easting/northing)
- Quadrangle map:
- Saint Paul West
- Inventory number
- BH 48952 (Bridgehunter.com ID)
Update Log
- July 11, 2021: New photo from Geoff Hubbs
- April 23, 2020: New photo from Geoff Hubbs
- September 23, 2016: New Street View added by Dana and Kay Klein
- October 20, 2013: New Street View added by Luke Harden
- October 4, 2013: Updated by Luke Harden: Added category "Twin Cities Rapid Transportation Co."
- September 15, 2013: Updated by Luke Harden: Added categories "Twin City Rapid Transit Co.", "William S. Hewett & Co."
- August 10, 2012: Photo imported by Luke Harden
- June 20, 2011: Essay added by Nathan Holth
Sources
- Nathan Holth
- Flickr Photo - Elevation.
- Flickr Photo - Reinforcement Detail.
- Flickr Photo - View Under Bridge.
- Luke
- Historicbridges.org - by Nathan Holth
- Dana and Kay Klein
- Geoff Hubbs
Comments
Rehab of this bridge is ongoing.
It appears their may be some good news for this bridge as a restoration is being discussed: http://www.twincities.com/stpaul/ci_22170117/como-park-bridg...
I was extremely disturbed to discover what appears to be among the oldest and most significant concrete arch bridges in Minnesota to be in a severe state of deterioration. I added some Flickr photos to the Sources list that show the deterioration as the Melan or Melan style reinforcing, which is the detail that gives this bridge high significance.
This page's URL is http://bridgehunter.com/mn/ramsey/bh48952/
Rehab is nearing completion, and it is looking good. Based on what I've seen, the rehab retains a significant amount of historical integrity in the structure.