Washington Avenue Bridge (Minneapolis)

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The Washington Avenue Bridge in Minneapolis, looking south from the west bank
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The Washington Avenue Bridge in Minneapolis, looking south from the west bank

The Washington Avenue Bridge crosses the Mississippi River in Minneapolis, Minnesota and connects the East Bank and West Bank portions of the University of Minnesota Twin Cities campus. The bridge is unique for being a double-decker bridge, with the lower portion designated for road traffic and the upper level used for pedestrians and bicycles (lanes specifically for bikes are on the north side). It is a utilitarian structure with simple architecture, but it has cultural significance because thousands of students, faculty, staff, and visitors walk across it every day.

An iron truss bridge was first built here in 1884, slightly upstream from the current location (connecting Washington Avenue on both sides of the river). At the time of construction, many people lived in the river flats area below, a neighborhood known as Bohemian Flats. Because those homes flooded on a regular basis, residents of the area were eventually evicted and the area below became a municipal port for barges bringing coal into the city, supplying a nearby manufactured gas plant. After an extensive period of environmental remediation in the mid-1990s, however, it is part of the large Minneapolis park system. The bridge above was strengthened in 1890 to accommodate streetcars, and it made up part of the first interurban line between Minneapolis and neighboring Saint Paul (see Twin City Rapid Transit). Rail service ended by 1954 and the aging structure was set for the chopping block as the current bridge began construction in 1962. It was torn down in 1965.

Original bridge circa 1885 showing residences on the Bohemian Flats
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Original bridge circa 1885 showing residences on the Bohemian Flats

This first structure was a straight east-west bridge carrying Washington Avenue, which continued directly into downtown. The new bridge aimed the west end slightly to the south, so Washington Avenue is now disjointed at that point. Continuing straight along the roadway will carry a vehicle into downtown along a short freeway-like section that meets 3rd Street South (a one-way—returning involves traveling along 4th Street). The roadway between Interstate 35W in the west and University Avenue in the east, which includes the bridge, was once designated as Minnesota State Highway 122, but that ended in 1997 when Hennepin County took over control of the roadway from the Minnesota Department of Transportation. Returning to Washington Avenue after crossing the bridge requires taking the first exit upon reaching the west side, or turning north after reaching downtown.

The top deck on the new bridge was originally just a flat space. Traversing the bridge in the harshness of winter was very uncomfortable, so an enclosure running down the center of the pedestrian area was added by the 1970s. Originally meant to be a heated indoor pedestrian area, due to energy cost concerns, the walkway is mostly unheated. There are some heaters inside that keep the area slightly warmer than outside, but it can still dip below the freezing point. The structure also adds a windbreak for the top level, improving conditions for people who choose to walk outside. In the summer, large overhangs also provide some shade.

East entrance to the bridge
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East entrance to the bridge

At least one designer had much grander plans. Winston Close, an advisor from the university to the architectural team, envisioned modeling the top level on the Ponte Vecchio bridge in Florence, Italy. This would have included shops, making the bridge a place to stay rather than just get across. Some effort has been put into making the site a more inviting place. The addition of the upper deck enclosure led to an annual artistic event held on the first few days of classes, where organizations of all stripes can put their brushes to panels lining the interior. While most are self-promotional messages from campus groups, some of the panels always show impressive designs.

The exterior of the bridge had been a rather drab combination of brown and gray for most of its existence. Some felt that it was off-balance in its university surroundings, especially after the Frank Gehry-designed Weisman Art Museum went into place next to the east end in the 1980s. University President Mark Yudof led a "Take Pride in U" campaign in 1997 where the top level was painted in the school colors of maroon and gold. Later, in the early 2000s decade, the superstructure was also painted over the course of about two years. This had to be arranged with Hennepin County, which owns the bridge. The resulting makeover is much more visually appealing. It took such a long time because the old paint contained lead and had to be carefully removed.

West enterance to the bridge
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West enterance to the bridge

A darker facet of the bridge's history is its association with suicide. Poet and university professor John Berryman is the most famous person to have killed himself at the site, when he fell from the bridge in 1972. About a half-dozen others have also died by landing in the river or on the flats area.

The bridge will probably be replaced or significantly altered in the coming decades. In particular, plans for a new Central Corridor transit link to Saint Paul must take this span into account. While a bus rapid transit solution may be chosen, many consider light rail to be more likely, and adding rails to the crossing (which would probably lead into a tunnel under the university campus) would be a significant undertaking.

References


The Twin Cities Campus of the University of Minnesota
Carlson School of ManagementCoffman Memorial UnionDinkytownThe Gopher WayLaw SchoolMariucci ArenaMcNamara Alumni CenterMemorial Stadium (demolished) • MetrodomeRidder ArenaSaint Anthony FallsSuperblockTCF Bank Stadium (proposed) • Washington Ave. BridgeWeisman Art MuseumWilliams Arena
Seal of the University of Minnesota
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