Lake Street Bridge

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The old Lake Street-Marshall Avenue Bridge was one of the busiest two lane bridges in the US. The new bridge has the longest clear span of any bridge in St. Paul at 550 feet.

The old Lake Street bridge needed to be replaced because it was obsolete. It did not, however, go easily. First, the new bridge had to be completed. When the first arch was being poured, the false work let go, and the bridge collapsed into the Mississippi River, taking an inspection crew with it. Later, after the new bridge was completed, the old bridge needed to be removed. Crews set up explosives. After pushing the button, and the dust cleared off, the old bridge was still standing. It took a second effort with more explosives to bring the old bridge down a few weeks later.


Source: www.visi.com/~jweeks/bridges/pages/ms11.html