Third Street Bridge (Cannon Falls, Minnesota) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Third Street Bridge
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The Third Street Bridge from the south-southeast
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 Location in Minnesota
Location in the United States
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| Location | Third St. over Cannon River, Cannon Falls, Minnesota |
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| Area | less than one acre |
| Built | 1909 |
| Built by | Bayne, A.Y. & Co. |
| Engineer | Wolff, Louis P. |
| Architectural style | Pennsylvania through truss |
| MPS | Iron and Steel Bridges in Minnesota MPS |
| NRHP reference No. | 89001836 |
| Added to NRHP | November 6, 1989 |
The Third Street Bridge is a special old bridge in Cannon Falls, Minnesota. It crosses the Cannon River. This bridge was built in 1909 and is made of strong steel.
It is a type of bridge called a Pennsylvania through truss. This means the main support beams go above the road, forming a kind of tunnel. The bridge is about 184 feet (56 meters) long and 17 feet (5.4 meters) wide. Because of its history, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1989. It is also part of a group of important iron and steel bridges in Minnesota.
Building the Third Street Bridge
In the early 1900s, the Minnesota Highway Commission helped with bridge building. They didn't design every bridge, but they could offer money. This encouraged cities to follow their plans.
A talented engineer named Louis P. Wolff designed the Third Street Bridge. He also designed another bridge in Goodhue County. The city of Cannon Falls asked the state for money to build this bridge. The state highway commission made a few small changes to the plans. Then, they approved the project. The Pennsylvania through truss design, used for this bridge, is not very common in Minnesota. This makes the Third Street Bridge even more unique.
Checking the Bridge's Condition
Bridges need regular checks to make sure they are safe. A report from August 2014 looked at the Third Street Bridge. It found that the bridge was in "fair to poor" condition. This means it needs some repairs.
Because of its condition, the bridge has a weight limit of 5 tons. This helps keep it safe for cars and trucks. When experts checked the bridge, they saw some issues. Parts of the bridge were rusty, and the paint was peeling. Also, some of the parts that help the bridge move were stuck. The concrete supports at the ends of the bridge had cracks. These checks help engineers decide what repairs are needed to keep the bridge strong and safe for everyone.
