The Old Sartell Bridge is a bridge that spans the Mississippi River in the city of Sartell in the U.S. state of Minnesota. Though still standing, it is closed to traffic and was replaced by the Sartell Bridge constructed about 850 feet downstream. The bridge is around 1000 feet downstream of the Sartell Dam. The bridge was built during a six-month period in 1914, but over the years the bridge became congested and less able to carry heavy traffic. As early as 1957, heavy trucks were found to be too much for the span. When the new bridge was built in 1984, the old bridge was used as a pedestrian footbridge, but it became impractical for this use since there was a factory at the east end. The bridge carries utility lines and was reopened for pedestrian traffic on June 9, 2023 with lookouts for fishing. It is accessible to pedestrians from the west and closed on the east end.

Old Sartell Bridge
The Old Sartell Bridge as viewed from the Sartell Bridge to the south.
Coordinates45°37′05″N 94°12′11″W / 45.61806°N 94.20306°W / 45.61806; -94.20306
CarriesOnly utility lines
CrossesMississippi River
LocaleSartell, Minnesota
Maintained byCity of Sartell
Characteristics
Design3 span Truss bridge
Total length587 feet
Width28 feet
Longest span135 feet
Clearance below18 feet
History
Opened1914
Closed1984
Location
Map

The Old Sartell Bridge is a three span pin connected camelback through truss. The camelback design is a specific type of Parker truss, where the polygonal top chord is composed of exactly five sections. Each span of the Old Sartell Bridge is composed of six panels. The bridge is supported by concrete piers and abutments.

See also

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References

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  • Historic Bridges of Michigan and Elsewhere - Provides identification information used to identify the Old Sartell Bridge.
  • Costello, Mary Charlotte (2002). Climbing the Mississippi River Bridge by Bridge, Volume Two: Minnesota. Cambridge, MN: Adventure Publications. ISBN 0-9644518-2-4.