Mendota Bridge facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Mendota Bridge |
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Aerial view of the Mendota Bridge from the south.
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| Coordinates | 44°53′14″N 93°10′39″W / 44.887341°N 93.177564°W |
| Carries | Four lanes of   MN 55 and MN 62 |
| Crosses | Minnesota River |
| Locale | Mendota Heights and Fort Snelling, Minnesota |
| Maintained by | Minnesota Department of Transportation |
| ID number | 4190 |
| Characteristics | |
| Design | 13 arch spans |
| Total length | 4,113 ft (1,254 m) |
| Width | 71 ft (22 m) |
| Longest span | 304 ft (93 m) |
| Clearance below | 100 ft (30 m) |
| History | |
| Opened | 1926, 1994 |
| Statistics | |
| Daily traffic | 39000 vehicles/day |
The Mendota Bridge is also known as the Fort Snelling – Mendota Bridge. It carries Highway 55 and Highway 62. These roads cross the Minnesota River. The bridge connects Fort Snelling and Mendota Heights.
This bridge is the last one over the Minnesota River. After it, the Minnesota River flows into the Mississippi River. This meeting point is called "Mendota" in the Dakota language. From the north end of the bridge, you can turn onto the Fort Road Bridge. This bridge crosses the Mississippi River into Saint Paul, Minnesota. You can see the skylines of both Minneapolis and Saint Paul from the Mendota Bridge.
Building the Mendota Bridge
The Mendota Bridge was designed by two engineers. Their names were C.A.P. Turner and Walter H. Wheeler. C.A.P. Turner also designed other famous bridges. These include the Aerial Lift Bridge in Duluth, Minnesota. He also designed the Liberty Memorial Bridge in North Dakota.
The bridge was built between 1924 and 1926. When it was finished, it was the longest concrete arch bridge in the world. It is 4,113 ft (1,254 m) long. The bridge has thirteen large arches. Each arch is 304 ft (93 m) wide.
The Mendota Bridge is special. It is dedicated to a group of soldiers called the "Gopher Gunners." These soldiers were part of the 151st Field Artillery. They bravely fought and died in World War I.
In 1979, the bridge was added to a special list. This list is called the National Register of Historic Places. This means it is an important historical site.
Bridge Updates
From 1940 to 1965, the bridge also carried Highway 100.
Later, the bridge needed some major work. From 1992 to 1994, the old bridge was rebuilt. Workers took down the top part of the bridge. They left the strong arches in place. Then, they built a new, wider top part. The new deck is also two feet higher than the original one.
