1884,1890-1965+1965,2012 Washington Avenue Bridges over Mississippi River in Minneapolis, MN

1965,2012: (Archived Bridge Hunter; John A. Weeks III; Satellite)

"The first bridge at this location was built in 1884. The 1884 structure was reconstructed in 1890 to accommodate streetcars. Streetcar service ended in 1952, and the bridge was determined to be obsolete shortly after that time and was dismantled in 1965." [JohnWeeks]

The bridge was strengthened so that light rail could be added in 2012.
 

Robert Swann commented on a post
Washington Avenue Bridge, about 1885.

Photo via umn
1940

JohnWeeks
This photo "is from a historic display located on the University of Minnesota campus. It shows the original Washington Avenue Bridge circa 1905. This iron truss bridge was in place from 1884 to 1965."
[Note the number of people that used to live on the Bohemian Flats flood plain.]

Photo via umn
Campus Views. View from SW showing Washington Ave Bridge under construction, 1965

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1965 Bridge

Street View, Sep 2013

The upper deck is dedicated to pedestrian traffic because the University of Minnesota built an expansion of the campus on the west bank of the Mississippi River. Because the winters get cold in Minnesota, the students have the option of an enclosed walkway. Unfortunately, according to the Google search results, this is a popular suicide bridge.

Street View, Sep 2014

Street View, Oct 2023

The traffic capacity was reduced by half to add the light rail.

Street View, Oct 2008

"So, when is a bridge a girder--and a steel stringer--and a deck truss--all in one? This bridge started out in 1965 as a plain deck girder bridge and remained as such until 2010, when a massive project began to upgrade the bridge to carry light-rail traffic. The plan was to add stringers to increase the load-carrying capability, but the original stucture's rigid cross-members didn't allow it. The design engineers came up with a very creative and innovative way to address this--instead of solid stringers, trusses were designed and installed, one member at a time, to fit around the existing sway bracing without having to remove any of it! And so, as a result, the main spans still retain their full original girder system, with multiple 'stringer-trusses' to support the light rail vehicles." [BridgeHunter]

This view caught the construction after the trusses had been added to the east lanes, but before they were added to the west lanes. So we get a good before-and-after view of the stringers. And since the Warren trusses had not been painted, we can easily see the trusses.

Street View, Jun 2011

MNDOT
"Design and construction of a double-deck, welded, haunched, continuous plate-girder bridge using A441 high-strength steel."
"This bridge was one of the first in the nation to use A441 high-strength, low-alloy steel in its superstructure, which allowed for the structural connections to be welded rather than riveted."