Minnesota Department of Transportation

511 Travel Info

Historic Bridges

Bridge 7631

Bridge 7631

Bridge 7631

See features of the bridge

History and significance

Bridge 7631 is part of the Duluth, Missabe & Northern Railway / Duluth, Missabe & Iron Range Railway Ore Dock No. 5 Approach located in Duluth, St. Louis County.  Constructed by the DM&N in 1913-1914, the DM&N / DM&IR Ore Dock No. 5 Approach is a multi-span, riveted steel deck girder structure that historically carried the DM&N / DM&IR Mountain Iron to Mesabi Junction (Duluth) line over several city streets in Duluth, to Ore Dock No. 5, which is sited in the St. Louis Bay of Lake Superior.  Bridge 7631 is located at the western end of the approach structure, between the abutment and Bridge 7626.  Constructed in 1913, it is a single-span, deck girder structure of riveted steel construction that carries the ore dock approach over West 3rd Street/Grand Avenue.  The tracks have been removed from this structure.  The Ore Dock No. 5 Approach is significant as a contributing resource to the DM&N / DM&IR Mountain Iron to Mesabi Junction (Duluth) railroad corridor.  This railroad corridor is significant for the critical role it played in the transportation system that enabled the Mesabi Range to be the leading producer of iron ore in the U.S. for more than 70 years.

Location

City of Duluth (St. Louis County)
Latitude, Longitude: 46.75737807, -92.14312558

Bridge features

Bridge 7631

One of a series of riveted plate girder spans supported on riveted, two- and four-legged steel bents. Specific superstructure construction features include cross-bracing between the girders.

Bridge 7631

“S”-curve alignment of the structure.

 


Bridge 7631

One of a series of riveted plate girder spans supported on riveted, two- and four-legged steel bents. Specific superstructure construction features include cross-bracing between the girders.

Bridge 7631

DM&N / DM&IR Ore Dock No. 5 at southeast end of approach structure.