I-694 Bridge Explained

Bridge Name:I-694 Bridge
Crosses:Mississippi River
Carries:Four lanes of westbound
Four lanes of Interstate 694 eastbound
Locale:Brooklyn Center, Minnesota, Fridley, Minnesota
Design:Girder bridge
Mainspan:200 feet
Length:776 feet
Width:74 feet
Below:43 feet
Open:1963 (westbound)
1988 (eastbound)
Maint:Minnesota Department of Transportation
Id:9321 (westbound)
27801 (eastbound)
Coordinates:45.0692°N -93.2817°W

The I-694 Bridge is a pair of girder bridges that spans the Mississippi River between the cities of Brooklyn Center and Fridley in Minnesota. The westbound bridge was built in 1963 by the Minnesota Department of Transportation, and widened in 1987 with a new structure above the piers. The eastbound bridge was built in 1988, also by the Minnesota Department of Transportation.

The former eastbound bridge was authorized in April 1942 at the beginning of World War II as a wartime construction link of Minnesota State Highway 100 to New Brighton, Minnesota.[1] When Interstate 694 was built, the Highway 100 bridge was widened and used for the eastbound lanes, while a new bridge was built for the westbound lanes. The eastbound bridge, showing its age, was demolished in 1988 and a new bridge was built.

This bridge is Minnesota's second-busiest,[2] carrying 150,000 cars per day. There is a sidewalk on the north side of the bridge allowing pedestrians and bicyclists to cross.[3]

See also

References

Notes and References

  1. Book: Northern Pump Company. Minneapolis, Minn. News Stories of the Northern Pump Company, Minneapolis, Minnesota, from September 24th, 1940-[Nov. 9, 1942].. 1942-11-09.
  2. Web site: Weeks . John A. III . I-35W Bridge Collapse Myths And Conspiracies . John A. Weeks III . 2007 .
  3. Web site: Mississippi National River and Recreation Area - Regional Park Loop . U.S. National Park Service . 2006 .