Canadian Pacific Bridge
Canadian Pacific Railroad Mississippi River Crossing
Minneapolis, MN

Canadian Pacific Bridge

• Structure ID:
• Location: River Mile 857.6.
• River Elevation: 801 Feet.
• Railroad: Canadian Pacific Railroad.
• Daily Traffic Count: 20 Trains Per Day (Estimated).
• Bridge Type: Steel deck truss.
• Length: 904 Feet Overall, 90 Foot Longest Span.
• Width: Single Track.
• Navigation Channel Width: 83 Feet.
• Height Above Water: 28 Feet.
• Date Built: Opened May 1905.
Claim to fame: this is the head of navigation, the official start of the US Army Corps Of Engineers 9-foot navigation channel.

Often called the Camden Railroad bridge, this structure was built for the Minneapolis, St. Paul, and Ste Saint Marie Railroad in 1905. The MSP&SSM became the Soo Line, and merged into the Canadian Pacific in the 1980's. The bridge is now used as the Canadian Pacific mainline. In 1977, the bridge was modified with the thinner center section to allow navigation traffic to move upstream of this bridge. As a result, specially made shallow draft tug boats and barges can travel a mile or two further upstream. At the same time, the mid-channel piers were reinforced to survive any potential river traffic accidents. The bridge crosses St. Anthony Parkway on the east side of the river on a short Pony Plate Girder bridge that still sports a large Soo Line logo.

The City of Minneapolis master plan for developing the east and west river parkways includes a plan to add a deck to the south side of this bridge to support a bicycle and pedestrian trail. This would serve to allow people using the parkways a place to cross the river without using one of the busy highway bridges.


Canadian Pacific Bridge
Canadian Pacific Bridge
Canadian Pacific Bridge
Canadian Pacific Bridge
Canadian Pacific Bridge

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Photo and text by John A. Weeks III, Copyright © 2006, all rights reserved.
For further information, contact: john@johnweeks.com