The old Washington Avenue Pratt Through-Truss Bridge Then and Now
1891
The Minnesota Department of Transportation began planning to replace this Washington Avenue bridge back in the 90′s. The 1891 Pratt through-truss bridge over the BNSF tracks started developing structural problems about the same time. After several lightly attended public meetings a design for a concrete slab bridge incorporating the the original trusses was decided upon. Intermediate imitation stone piers were added underneath because the new bridge 109 foot bridge that requires four spans to cross the tracks. In 2010 an estimated 27,000 cars passed under those antique trusses every day.
