Lexington Bridge

“Did anyone bring their ice skates?” a voice joked from the back of the group. We’re standing before the Lexington Bridge, a sturdy giant of steel and concrete that links St. Paul and Lilydale across the mighty Mississippi. This bridge, completed in 2004, is a testament to both modern engineering and the fascinating history of transportation in this region. You see, the Lexington Bridge we see today is actually a replacement for an earlier structure. The original Lexington Bridge, built in 1965, was part of the grand plan for Interstate 35E. Interestingly, that bridge saw relatively little traffic for many years. Construction of I-35E, plagued by controversy and legal battles, wasn’t fully completed until the early 1990s. But once the freeway was finished, traffic surged across the Lexington Bridge, leading to faster-than-expected wear and tear. Recognizing the need for a more robust crossing, the Minnesota Department of Transportation embarked on an impressive feat of engineering: building a brand-new bridge in the same location while keeping four lanes of traffic flowing. Picture this: a new span constructed alongside the old, traffic carefully shifted, then the old bridge meticulously dismantled and a new one erected in its place. It’s a testament to the ingenuity and skill of the engineers and construction workers involved. And if you’re here on a particularly frosty day, you might notice something unique about the Lexington Bridge. It has a special anti-icing system that sprays potassium acetate onto the surface, preventing ice from forming and making travel safer during the harsh Minnesota winters. So, the next time you cross the Lexington Bridge, take a moment to appreciate not just the view but also the history and ingenuity woven into its very structure.