The new bridge replaces the old Sauk Rapids Bridge, which is an obsolete deck truss style bridge similar to the I-35W bridge that collapsed. Like the I-35W bridge, the old Sauk Rapids Bridge was considered to be fracture critical where a single failure in the bridge could lead to a total failure of the bridge. That bridge was at the end of its lifespan, and traffic was overwhelming its capacity given that it had only 2 lanes. The new bridge has 4 lanes, varying in width from 85 feet to 125 feet, and 4 spans of widths of 224 feet, 295 feet, 265 feet, and 220 feet. Signature features of the new bridge include the curved piers, the curved steel girders, and the multi-level helix for bicycle traffic. The new bridge fixes an important safety problem with the old bridge in that it also crosses the very busy high-speed BNSF railroad tracks on the Benton County side of the bridge.
The new alignment of the bridge was hotly debated. The first issue was which street to land on. It was eventually decided to land on 2nd Street on the Benton County side given that 2nd Street was also County Highway 3, and it had a freeway interchange with US-10. The second issue was how to cross Benton Ave, which is the main city street through the area. Locals want to cross Benton and land a bit further east. This would have eliminated a stoplight intersection and sped up traffic a bit. Area business operators were afraid that bypassing Benton Ave would adversely affect the downtown area. It was eventually decided to land before Benton Ave, allowing easy access from the bridge to the downtown area.
The Sauk Rapids bridge is located at the base of Sauk Rapids, a spot on the Mississippi River where the elevation falls rapidly. This area was once considered to be impassable. Rocks in the river set up huge standing waves and eddies that would swamp canoes and kayaks. The US Army Corps Of Engineers removed those rocks in the 1870s. The area is still a challenge for canoeists, but it is relatively safe for anyone who has a bit of experience with those boats.
Note—The top (6) photos are from October 2007, the upper middle (5) photos are from March, 2006, the lower middle (5) photos are from October, 2006, and the bottom (5) photos are from September, 2007.
