The National Bridge Inventory rates the Petersen Bridge as being obsolete and intolerable to be left in place. This author sees the bridge in a little different light. I rate it as being magnificent. Each one of the 60 cars per day that cross this bridge probably feels the same way.

This Pony Truss style bridge is one of the few truss bridges remaining on the lower section of the Minnesota River. It is the only bridge on that section of the river that is served by a gravel road. Given that the road does not carry enough traffic to warrant being paved, the bridge does not have enough traffic to jusify being replaced. As a result, if this bridge does become unsafe, the river crossing would simply be closed off.

The exciting part of a truss bridge is that all the working parts are right out in the open for people to look at. It is just like a steam railroad locomotive where all the mechanics are located on the outside of the engine, and you can watch the parts move when the train moves. Compare that to a rocket or a fighter jet where you cannot see any of the stuff that makes the vehicle fly on the outside. It takes all the excitement away. There are so few bridges like this left in Minnesota that we need to draw the line somewhere and fight to keep this one, otherwise we risk losing all of the truss bridges for good.