This bridge is the easternmost of six bridges that carry Minnehaha Parkway
over the Minnehaha Creek. The original bridge at this location was built in
1924 as the parkway was developed in the mid-1920s. It was low concrete
girder bridge that measured 38 feet long and 52 feet wide. The parkway
merged from two roadways into a single roadway at this location, and the
bridge was aligned with the westbound roadway.
The 1924 era bridge was at the wrong elevation to work with the master plan
for the light rail and highway improvements being planned for the 1999 and 2000
construction season. That plan called for roof to be built over Hiawatha
Avenue to carry Minnehaha Park over the LRT and highway MN-55. Minnehaha
Parkway would travel through the park on top of the roof rather than
intersecting with Hiawatha Avenue. Since the roadway would be 20 feet
higher, a new higher bridge was required. The new bridge was built just
south of the old bridge so it would like up with the center of the parkway
rather than being in line with the westbound lanes. Finally, the new bridge
was built almost three times along, allowing it to completely span the creek
and the wetlands on the east side of the creek.
The photo above is a profile view of the Minnehaha Parkway Bridge as seen from
the west back of the Minnehaha Creek looking to the northeast.
These two photos are looking upstream towards the south face of the Minnehaha
Parkway Bridge. The photo above is a wider view that shows the park and canoe
landing, while the photo below is a view of the main bridge spans. This canoe
landing is the end of the canoe route on the creek due to a dam and falls
located just downstream.
These two photos are looking west down the length of the bridge deck from
the south side of Minnehaha Parkway. The photo above is a wider view of the
entire bridge deck, while the photo below is a closer view looking down
the downstream sidewalk.
The photo above is walking upstream on the trail along the creek as it
passes under the Minnehaha Parkway Bridge. The photo below is a view from
under the bridge looking west from the trail.
The photo above is a view looking west down the south face of the Minnehaha
Parkway Bridge. The photo below is the opposite view, looking east along
the south face of the structure.