The MN-25 crossing is one of two river crossings that serve as a
quick connection between US-10, which parallels the river on the north
side, and I-94, which parallels the river on the south side. MN-25
is also the first river crossing as you leave the Twin Cities metro
area and head towards Saint Cloud and the Mississippi River headwaters.
The MN-25 bridge is a rather run of the mill 4-lane concrete girder
bridge that we will find commonly crossing the Mississippi River on
shorter river crossings as we head north. This bridge replaced a
1930 steel through truss bridge, which replaced an 1891 swingspan.
I found it interesting that the City of Monticello had cameras set
up around the bridge. They also posted signs to remind people that
they were being watched. I happened to take a picture of one of
these cameras, and found that it was actually a utility light set
behind a metal cage. Within minutes of taking photos around the
base of the bridge, a city vehicle appeared and the driver followed
my every move through binoculars. There must not be much excitement
in Monticello.
The photo above is a view of the north face of the bridge as seen from
the shoreline on the west side of the Mississippi River.
These two photos are from the southwest corner of the structure taken from
the sidewalk. The photo above is a view along the outside of the south
face of the structure. The photo below is a view of the traffic deck
looking to the east.
These two photos are views from the west end of the bridge near the river
bank. The photo above is a view along the south face of the structure.
The photo below is a view under the bridge looking at one of the main
channel piers.
The photo above is a profile view of the bridge from a vantage point
located downriver and on the east side of the Mississippi. The photo
above is a sign posted on a bridge girder on the south side of the
pedestrian underpass. While the photo suggests that you are on camera,
the device next to the sign is a lamp, not a camera. The cameras are
mounted on utility poles in the nearby park.
The photo above is the city vehicle that arrived shortly after I started
to take pictures. The driver followed my every movement through field
glasses. The photo below is taken from the park on the northwest end
of the bridge structure.