Robert Street Bridge facts for kids
The Robert Street Bridge is a special bridge in downtown Saint Paul, Minnesota. It crosses the mighty Mississippi River. This bridge is famous for its unique and strong design. It was built to handle lots of river traffic and even another train bridge that crosses underneath it! The bridge also has a beautiful "rainbow arch" that stands tall over the river.
Quick facts for kids Robert Street Bridge |
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The main spans of the Robert Street Bridge from the north
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| Coordinates | 44°56′38.13″N 93°05′14.65″W / 44.9439250°N 93.0874028°W |
| Carries | South Robert Street |
| Crosses | Mississippi River |
| Locale | St. Paul, Minnesota |
| Official name | Robert Street Bridge |
| Characteristics | |
| Design | Reinforced concrete multiple-arch |
| Total length | 1534.4 feet (467.7 meters) |
| Width | 78.5 feet (23.9 meters) |
| Longest span | 264 feet (80.5 meters) |
| Clearance below | 62 feet (18.9 meters) |
| History | |
| Opened | 1926 |
Robert Street Bridge: A St. Paul Landmark
The Robert Street Bridge is a strong bridge made of concrete. It has many arches that cross the Mississippi River in downtown Saint Paul, Minnesota. This bridge is special because of its clever design. Engineers had to make sure it worked well with river boats and other roads.
A train bridge also crosses underneath it at an angle. The Robert Street Bridge has a huge "rainbow arch" in the middle. This arch is 62 feet (about 19 meters) tall above the river. It helps boats pass safely and also makes the bridge look amazing.
The Fegles Construction Company, Ltd. built the bridge between 1924 and 1926. The company Toltz, King & Day designed it. In 1989, the bridge was added to the National Register of Historic Places. This means it's an important historical site.
The bridge and Robert Street are named after Captain Louis Roberts. He was a famous river boat captain and businessman. He was also one of the first people to settle in Saint Paul, Minnesota.
Why Was This Bridge Built?
In the early 1920s, Saint Paul needed a new bridge. The old one, built in 1884, was made of iron and was too old. There were too many cars and people using it. So, a new, bigger bridge was needed.
The engineers who designed the new bridge faced many challenges. They had to work around several train tracks. These included tracks for the Chicago, St. Paul, Minneapolis and Omaha Railway. They also had to consider the St. Paul Union Depot train station.
The bridge also needed to be high enough for boats to pass. The United States Department of War set the rules for how tall bridges had to be. The bridge also had to cross over Second Street in downtown St. Paul. It also had to fit into a busy factory area.
Because of all these challenges, the engineers had to be very creative. They designed the bridge with different types of arches. Some arches were "barrel-arch" and "rib-arch" on the sides. The main arch over the river was the special "rainbow arch."
Famous People Connected to the Bridge
Did you know that a famous person helped build this bridge? Warren Burger worked on the construction crew. Years later, he became the Chief Justice of the United States. This is one of the highest legal jobs in the country!
