Mendota Road Bridge

Summary

Mendota Road Bridge is a stone arch bridge that spans the outlet of Pickerel Lake where it meets the Mississippi River just south of downtown St. Paul, Minnesota, USA. It was built in 1894 by the city of St. Paul and was designed by the St. Paul City Engineer's Office.

Mendota Road Bridge
The Mendota Road Bridge as viewed from the Mississippi River side.
Coordinates44°55′30″N 93°06′43″W / 44.925°N 93.112°W / 44.925; -93.112
CarriesTwo lanes of Water Street
CrossesThe outlet of Pickerel Lake
LocaleSt. Paul, Minnesota
ID number90401
Mendota Road Bridge
Mendota Road Bridge is located in Minnesota
Mendota Road Bridge
Mendota Road Bridge is located in the United States
Mendota Road Bridge
LocationWater St. over Pickerel Lake Outlet, St. Paul, Minnesota
Coordinates44°55′29″N 93°06′43″W / 44.92484°N 93.11189°W / 44.92484; -93.11189
Arealess than one acre
Built1894
ArchitectCity of St. Paul Engineer's Office
Architectural styleStone-arch bridge
MPSMinnesota Masonry-Arch Highway Bridges MPS
NRHP reference No.89001825[1]
Added to NRHPNovember 06, 1989
Characteristics
DesignArch bridge
Width24 feet (7.3 m)
Longest span10 feet (3.0 m)
History
Opened1894
Statistics
Daily traffic500

The bridge is historically significant as an example of a small-scale 19th century stone arch highway bridge. The stone used in the bridge is locally quarried gray limestone. Ornamentation on the bridge includes protruding keystones at the top of the arch, a slight peak at the top of the arch, and a string course that matches the roadway level. The bridge resembles other stone arch bridges built in Minnesota townships during the late 19th century and early 20th century, but the ornamentation sets it apart. Another facet of historical importance is the fact that the bridge has never been substantially altered during its lifetime, except for a concrete cap replacing the original coping at the top of the railings. The bridge has been listed in the National Register of Historic Places (#89001825) due to its historical integrity.

References edit

  1. ^ "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. March 13, 2009.
  • "Mendota Road Bridge". Minnesota's Historic Bridges. Minnesota Historical Society. 1996. Archived from the original on 2006-05-15. Retrieved 2006-06-07.