Whose view? From where? — June 2013

Eric Otterness guessed correctly: This is the storm sewer exit just below the Lake Street Bridge on the east bank of the river on a rainy day.

Jonathan Riehle also guessed correctly, albeit in an especially self-effacing way: I think this is the storm sewer outlet from St. Paul just downstream from the Lake St/Marshall Ave Bridge. Of course, I am usually wrong or clueless on these, but every so often I get one correct! Looks like the water is high, perhaps following a significant rainfall?

And finally, a remembrance of the evolution of the Lake Street Bridge, seen in the upper left corner of the video, from Dot Drake:

By the 1980s, the old Lake Street Bridge was overwhelmed with traffic. A new 4 lane structure was needed. Construction on the new bridge started in 1989. The project started by building a new 2 lane bridge next to the old bridge. Traffic would then be moved to the new bridge. That allowed the old bridge to be removed. Once the old bridge was gone, the remaining two lanes of the new bridge could be completed. This would allow traffic to continue flowing throughout the construction project.

On April 24, 1990, disaster struck the bridge project. The falsework for the arch collapsed after a major concrete pour. The new bridge ended up in the river, taking with it a construction crew. One worker was fatally injured. The accident probe concluded that the falsework was not properly engineered. The old bridge was removed a year later. Demolition experts set charges, pushed the button, and after large boom and a cloud of dust, the old bridge was still standing. A second demolition with more powerful explosives finally brought the old bridge down a few weeks later.

The new Lake Street Bridge is a magnificent structure. At 550 feet, it has the longest clear span of any bridge in St. Paul. The long thin arches are very graceful, looking much like a bird of prey gliding just above the water level. The concrete work features many art deco details. The bridge deck has cut stone piers for the guardrails, retro style lighting, and wrought-iron railings. The bridge is just as functional as it is decorative. It features 4 lanes, plus it has sidewalks that are protected from traffic by inner guardrails.

About Whose view? From where?

Each month in this section, we feature a photo somewhere along the river corridor in the Twin Cities that is in some way significant or important or just plain scenic. Individuals may then e-mail us and identify the view and explain why they believe it is significant to the community or important to them personally. Well publish some of your responses in the next issue of Mississippi Messages, where we will also reveal the correct answer.

To submit your guess and response, e-mail Bob Spaulding, River Advocate, through our contact form. The respondent to provide the first correct identification of the view and hopefully some interesting thoughts about its significance will receive a valuable prize for their effort. All entries must be received by the first day of the following month for consideration.