Intercity Bridge facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Intercity Bridge |
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| Coordinates | 44°55′4.25″N 93°12′4.90″W / 44.9178472°N 93.2013611°W |
| Carries | Four lanes of vehicle traffic plus bike lanes and pedestrian walkways (Ford Parkway in St. Paul to 46th Street in Minneapolis) |
| Crosses | Mississippi River |
| Locale | Minneapolis-St. Paul, Minnesota |
| Characteristics | |
| Design | Concrete arch |
| Total length | 1,523.6 feet |
| Width | 64.7 feet |
| Longest span | Three main spans of 300 feet |
| History | |
| Opened | 1927 |
The Intercity Bridge, often known as the Ford Parkway Bridge, connects Minneapolis, Minnesota and Saint Paul, Minnesota across the Mississippi River. Some people in Minneapolis also call it the 46th Street Bridge. This bridge is special because it's one of the biggest concrete bridges ever built in Minnesota. It was constructed between 1925 and 1927.
The bridge was designed by Martin Sigvart Grytbak and built by James O. Heyworth, Inc.. In 1989, the Intercity Bridge was added to the National Register of Historic Places. It is one of several impressive concrete arch bridges that cross the high river bluffs along the Mississippi River. Other similar bridges include the Franklin Avenue Bridge and the Third Avenue Bridge.
Why the Bridge Was Built
The Intercity Bridge was originally built to help people get to the Ford's Twin Cities Assembly Plant. This plant was a big car factory. The idea was that people living in Minneapolis could easily travel to work at the Ford plant in St. Paul.
The Ford plant, along with Lock and Dam No. 1, was expected to make the Highland Park area of St. Paul a very popular place to live and work. As part of this plan, St. Paul made a street called Edsel Avenue bigger and renamed it Ford Parkway.
A group of politicians and engineers from both Minneapolis and St. Paul planned the bridge project. Charles M. Babcock, who was Minnesota's first commissioner of highways, led this group.
Unexpected Challenges
The growth that was expected because of the bridge didn't happen right away. This was mainly due to the Great Depression, a time when the economy was very bad. Also, neighborhoods in Minneapolis on the other side of the bridge grew more quickly. It wasn't until after World War II that the Highland Park area finally saw the growth that the bridge was meant to bring.
Bridge Improvements
The Intercity Bridge has been updated several times.
- In 1972 and 1973, the bridge's top surface was replaced, and it was made wider. These changes did not take away from the bridge's historical importance.
- In 2004, the bridge was rebuilt from its arches upwards. This big rebuilding project won an award from the Minnesota Society of Professional Engineers in 2006.
Images for kids
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A view from the south side, with the powerhouse of the Ford Dam in the foreground.
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A view from underneath the bridge on the St. Paul side, looking west.
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Plaque commemorating the construction of the Intercity Bridge on the St. Paul side.
