Cass Co Hwy 3 - Itasca Co Hwy 18 (East)
Mississippi River Highway Crossing
Near Deer River, MN

Cass Co Highway 3

• Structure ID: NBI 31512
• Location: River Mile 1203.8
• River Elevation: 1,276 Feet
• Counties: Cass, Itasca
• Highways: Cass County Highway 3, Itasca County Highway 18
• Daily Traffic Count: 230 (2001)
• Bridge Type: Concrete Girder
• Bridge Length: 246 Feet, 80 Foot Longest Span
• Bridge Width: 36 Feet, 2 Lanes
• Height Above Water: 8 Feet
• Date Built: 1974
There are two bridges within 5 miles of each other that both cross the Mississippi River, both are on the border between Cass County and Itasca County, both are Cass County Highway 3 on one end and Itasca County Highway 18 on the other end, and both are built from precast concrete girders. It is easy to confuse the two bridges.

This bridge is the downriver of the two Hwy 3/Hwy 18 bridges. It runs east and west where Hwy 3/Hwy 18 also runs east and west, roughly parallel to US-2. The distinguishing feature is the railing, which is cast in place from concrete. This bridge sits square to the highway, but the river crosses at an angle. As a result, the piers are also set at an angle to the highway. Rather than sharing the two bridges, Itasca County owns this bridge, and Cass County owns the other similar bridge.

This bridge is the fifth of five bridges that cross the great river as it forms the border between Cass County and Itasca County.


Cass Co Highway 3

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Photo and text by John A. Weeks III, Copyright © 2006, all rights reserved.
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