Originally known as the St. Anthony Falls Bridge, The Third Avenue Bridge is the longest S-curved concrete arch bridge in the world. The graceful structure carries traffic across the Mississippi River and right over Saint Anthony Falls. The 2,223-foot crossing was designed by city engineer Frederick W. Cappelen, who also created plans for other similar bridges in Minneapolis such as the Franklin Avenue Bridge. The bridge’s shallow curve allows the footings to avoid fractures in the limestone bedrock that supports the bridge piers. The Third Avenue Bridge was completed in 1918 at a cost $690,000. By the 1970s, the Third Avenue Bridge was in rough shape. An argument was made that it would be cheaper to tear down the bridge and start over.In an effort to save the bridge the city began work on replacing the deck, spandrels and guardrails. After construction began, further deterioration was discovered and the city decided to refurbish the entire structure. The rebuilt bridge opened in 1980.
