On this Date in Minnesota history: July 25

July 25, 1984 – Built in 1889, St. Paul’s High Bridge was closed to all traffic, vehicular and pedestrian, on this date. A bridge in Ohio of similar construction had recently collapsed, and engineers determined the bridge had deteriorated to such a point, that the same thing could happen here.

*Original St. Paul High Bridge – circa 1890 – Crosses the Mississippi River

The current bridge was built and opened in 1987 at a cost of $20 million. The ornamental ironwork on the new bridge was built using iron from the old bridge.

The High Bridge has a height of 160 feet, making it the highest bridge in St. Paul.

**St. Paul High Bridge Today

http://lcweb2.loc.gov/pnp/habshaer/mn/mn0000/mn0076/data/mn0076data.pdf

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/High_Bridge_(St._Paul)

*http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/High_Bridge_(St._Paul)#mediaviewer/File:Smith_Avenue_Bridge_St_Paul_Minnesota.jpg

**Photo taken by Pamela J. Erickson. Released into the public domain July 25, 2014, as long as acknowledgement included.