Hennepin Avenue Feeder Bridges, Minneapolis, MN

Eastbound Span
• Structure ID:	NBI: 27538.
• Location:	River Mile 854.3.
• Traffic Count:	15,600 (2001).
• Length:	383 Feet.
• Height Above Water:	22 Feet.
• Date Built:	1973.

Westbound Span
• Structure ID:	NBI: 27537.
• Location:	River Mile 854.4.
• Traffic Count:	9,850 (2001).
• Length:	414 Feet.
• Height Above Water:	27 Feet.
• Date Built:	1971.

Statistics Common To Both Spans
• River Elevation:	801 Feet.
• Highway:	CSAH-52, Hennepin Avenue.
• Bridge Type:	Steel Girder.
• Width:	3 Traffic Lanes Per Span, 2 Spans, 40 Feet Each.
• Navigation Channel Width:	Non-Navigable, 95 Feet.

The Hennepin Avenue Suspension Bridge spans the main channel of the Mississippi River. In the falls area, there is a secondary channel that separates Nicollet Island from the north side of the river. Two secondary feeder bridges span this smaller channel. The northbound span, which is Hennepin Avenue on both ends, is in the upper two photos. The southbound span connects 1st Avenue NE to the Hennepin Avenue Suspension Bridge, and is shown in the lower two photos.

This is one of the earliest bridged crossing points on the Mississippi River. In 1840, a dam was constructed that supported a footpath. A wagon bridge was built in 1851. The bridge was replaced with a stone arch bridge in 1878, which was widened in 1899.

Note—these bridges are in the bonus section since they do not cross the main river channel.