From the top, the MN-15 bridge is very nondescript. You hardly even know that you are crossing a bridge, let alone the mighty Mississippi River. From below, the bridge has a little more character. The pointed arches in the piers and fake cut stone effect remind one more of a gothic cathedral than a modern bridge.

MN-15 used to use the old Sauk Rapids Bridge. MN-15 was rebuilt as a bypass running between Sauk Rapids and Sartell. When the MN-15 number was moved to the new bridge, the old bridge was turned back to the counties.

The Bridge of Hope name is the result of a bridge naming contest held thoughout the local school systems. The winning name is inteded to memorialize Jacob Wetterling. Wetterling was kidnapped and most likely murdered on October 22, 1989, at the age of 11. Despite the kidnapper being on foot, being spotted by 2 other children, the Police being on the scene within minutes, and a massive search that was organized that very evening, no trace of the kidnapper or Jacob have ever been found.