Baudette–Rainy River International Bridge Explained

Fetchwikidata:coordinates
Bridge Name:Baudette – Rainy River International Bridge
Carries:2 lanes of and, pedestrian traffic
Crosses:Rainy River
Locale:Rainy River, Ontario
Owner:Ontario and Minnesota
Design:steel truss
Material:steel
Length:391m (1,283feet)
Width:7.3m (24feet)
Spans:6
Clearance:4.5m (14.8feet) (above road deck)
Below:Rainy River
Builder:Barnett-McQueen Ltd
Begin:1958
Complete:1960
Open:July 30, 1960
Toll:1960-1988

The Baudette – Rainy River International Bridge is an international bridge connecting Rainy River, Ontario, Canada, with Baudette, Minnesota, United States, across the Rainy River.

The bridge marks the western terminus of Ontario Highway 11 (as Atwood Avenue) and the northern terminus of Minnesota State Highway 72 (International Drive). The bridge is owned by Ontario and Minnesota, and is managed by MTO (with funding from the Government of Canada) and MnDOT, respectively.[1] The bridge carries 2 lanes of traffic and a 1.8m (05.9feet) sidewalk for pedestrian traffic.[2] Customs plazas are located on both sides of the bridge.

Downriver from the bridge is Baudette-Rainy River Rail Bridge, built in 1901 for Ontario and Rainy River Railway and now used by CN Rail.

Replacement

A new replacement bridge has been completed and opened to traffic in October 2020.[3] Destruction of the old structure has begun and is expected to be completed by fall 2021 when a Grand opening celebration and ribbon cutting ceremony for the new bridge will take place.

Border crossing

See main article: Baudette–Rainy River Border Crossing.

The Baudette–Rainy River Border Crossing connects the cities of Baudette, Minnesota and Rainy River, Ontario at the Baudette–Rainy River International Bridge. The Port of Entry was established in 1960 when the International Bridge was completed. Prior to 1960, the cities were connected via point-to-point ferry service as well as a railroad bridge.

References

  1. Web site: Ontario Provincial Bridges - North Western Region . 10 September 2011 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20110706145140/http://www.mto.gov.on.ca/english/bridges/north-west-region.pdf . 6 July 2011 . .
  2. Web site: The Baudette - Rainy River International Bridge . May 2016 . 9 June 2022 . . 18 June 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210618021536/https://www.dot.state.mn.us/d2/projects/baudette-bridge/pdfs/public-meeting-3/pic_brd-5_background.pdf . live .
  3. Web site: Baudette / Rainy River International Bridge Replacement . . 9 June 2022 . 4 March 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220304090922/http://www.dot.state.mn.us/d2/projects/baudette-bridge/index.html . live .

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