“Uninspired” some say about it. The Dartmouth Bridge stands before us. It spans the Mississippi River. It connects Cedar-Riverside and the University of Minnesota.
This steel girder bridge carries I-94, US 12, and US 52. The Dartmouth Bridge is named for Dartmouth Avenue SE. It sits just north of the bridge.
The original bridge appeared unremarkable. But it is the busiest highway bridge in Minnesota. More than 167000 vehicles cross it each day. This is on Interstate 94. It connects downtown Minneapolis and Saint Paul.
In October 1963, the bridge parts arrived. Barges carried 125-foot box girders. These 148-ton pieces came from Gary Indiana.
The Dartmouth Bridge underwent a major change in the mid-1990s. The original span was completely demolished. It was rebuilt with steel I-beam construction. Two bridge piers support the new span.
Before 2007, the Dartmouth Bridge had four lanes each way. One lane served as an entrance or exit. It connected to Huron Boulevard and Riverside Avenue.
After the I-35W bridge collapse, traffic shifted. It detoured onto I-94. This included the Dartmouth Bridge. To handle the extra cars, the bridge was repainted. It temporarily carried five lanes in each direction. People liked the change. The additional lane became permanent.
Rebuilding the Dartmouth Bridge was quite an engineering feat. The work was completed in stages. The bridge never closed to traffic. First, workers widened the piers and abutments. Then, they placed new steel girders. These rested on the wider piers. The outside lanes were completed next. The existing lanes were removed and rebuilt one side at a time.
Critics say the Dartmouth Bridge looks like the I-94 freeway. Some find it uninspired. But engineers might argue something else. The best bridge is one you barely notice.
From here, we can view the Cappelen Memorial Bridge. That’s the Franklin Avenue Bridge. Downtown Minneapolis rises in the background to the left. The University Hospital complex stands to the right. The East River Flats Catwalk runs under the east end of the Dartmouth Bridge.
The Dartmouth Bridge has seen many changes. It has adapted to growing traffic needs. It remains a vital part of Minneapolis.