Franklin Avenue Bridge facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Franklin Avenue Bridge |
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Franklin Avenue Bridge spanning the Mississippi River
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| Coordinates | 44°57′50″N 93°13′22″W / 44.96389°N 93.22278°W |
| Carries | CSAH 5 (Franklin Avenue) |
| Crosses | Mississippi River |
| Locale | Minneapolis, Minnesota |
| Official name | F.W. Cappelen Memorial Bridge |
| ID number | 2441 |
| Characteristics | |
| Design | Concrete Arch |
| Total length | 1054.7 feet |
| Longest span | 400 feet |
Bridges over the Mississippi in Minneapolis–St. Paul. Franklin Ave. is near the bottom of the image between I-94 and Short Line bridge.
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The Franklin Avenue Bridge, officially known as the F.W. Cappelen Memorial Bridge, is a famous bridge in Minneapolis, Minnesota. It carries Franklin Avenue over the mighty Mississippi River. This bridge was designed by Frederick William Cappelen and finished in 1923.
A Bridge with a Special Design
The Franklin Avenue Bridge is a type of bridge called a reinforced-concrete open-spandrel arched structure. This means it's made of strong concrete with arches that have open spaces. These open spaces make the bridge look light and elegant. The main part of the bridge, called the central span, stretches 400 feet (122 meters). The entire bridge is over 1000 feet long (about 321 meters)!
When it was finished in 1923, its central span was the longest concrete arch in the entire world! This was a very impressive achievement for a bridge in Minneapolis. The bridge was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1978. This means it's recognized as an important historical structure.
Changes Over Time
When the Franklin Avenue Bridge first opened, it carried streetcars. These were like electric trains that ran on tracks in the street. However, the streetcars were removed in the 1940s.
Renovations and Updates
The bridge has been updated several times. In the early 1970s, it had a big renovation. Many of its original decorative details were changed, and the top part of the bridge (called the deck) was completely replaced and made wider.
Later, in 2005, a special lane for bikes was added. This made it easier and safer for cyclists to cross the river.
Between 2015 and 2017, the bridge went through another major update. During this time, some of the original details that were lost in the 1970s renovation were brought back. This helped restore the bridge's historic look.
- Cappelen Memorial Bridge in the Structurae database
