Historic Bridges

Faribault Viaduct (Bridge 5370)

History and significance

The Faribault Viaduct carries State Highway 60 (Division Street) over the Straight River and rail yards in the city of Faribault in Rice County and links the city's eastern residential neighborhoods with its commercial center. Completed in 1937, it is one of the major, ornamental, concrete-arch bridges built in the state. The structure is a 17-span, reinforced-concrete bridge with a parabolic curve. The three main spans are open-spandrel, two-rib, continuous arches. Ornamentation includes Art Deco/Classical Revival details incorporated into the concrete piers and a decorative metal railing and light standards. Pedestrian stairways connect the roadway to a city park and recreation area in the Straight River floodplain. The Faribault Viaduct Bridge is an excellent example of a monumental, reinforced concrete, continuous-rib-arch bridge utilizing Art Deco/Classical Revival architectural design.

Rehabilitation activities

Rehabilitation efforts included widening the bridge to meet increased traffic demand; providing structural enhancements within the bridge's existing aesthetic parameters; providing redesigned, historically sensitive railings to current safety standards; and recasting the bridge's historic lighting standards. Rehabilitation work, executed in 2008-2009, followed the guidance provided in the Historic Bridge Management Plan.

Location

City of Faribault (Rice County)
Latitude, Longitude: 44.29094269, -93.26454175

Bridge features