Photos
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Entering the bridge from the north The first five photos were taken by Birgit while I was driving. I did slow down to allow her to get some quality shots. Photo taken by Jason and Birgit Smith in December 2007 |
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East approach Photo taken by Jason and Birgit Smith in December 2007 |
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On the bridge Photo taken by Jason and Birgit Smith in December 2007 |
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Portal bracing view Photo taken by Jason and Birgit Smith in December 2007 |
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Inside the bridge Photo taken by Jason and Birgit Smith in December 2007 |
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Oblique view from the Hastings side These pictures were taken while on foot Photo taken by Jason and Birgit Smith in December 2007 |
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Side view of the bridge This was taken from a nearby park Photo taken by Jason and Birgit Smith in December 2007 |
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Close-up of west approach Photo taken by Jason and Birgit Smith in December 2007 |
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Close-up of east approach Photo taken by Jason and Birgit Smith in December 2007 |
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side view from the park with bench in front Photo taken by Jason and Birgit Smith in December 2007 |
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angle view of the bridge from down below on the NW side Photo taken by Jason and Birgit Smith in December 2007 |
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Underneath the bridge Photo taken by Jason and Birgit Smith in December 2007 |
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View of the bridge from the SW end Photo taken by Jason and Birgit Smith in December 2007 |
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close-up of the east portal Photo taken by Jason and Birgit Smith in December 2007 |
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Plaque of the Spiral Bridge This bridge replaced the Hastings Spiral Bridge, which was unique for its spiral west approach. The main span was of a Parker design. Because of the increase in vehicular traffic and lack of funds to save the bridge, it was subsequentially demolished as soon as the new bridge was opened to traffic. Photo taken by Jason and Birgit Smith in December 2007 |
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Remaining abutment of the Spiral Bridge Photo taken by Jason and Birgit Smith in December 2007 |
Facts
- Overview
- Steel through arch bridge over the Mississippi River on US 61 in Hastings
- Location
- Dakota County, Minnesota
- Status
- Open to traffic
- History
- Built 1951
- Design
- Steel through arch
- Dimensions
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Length of largest span: 514.1 ft.
Total length: 1,857.4 ft.
Deck width: 32.2 ft.
Vertical clearance above deck: 14.8 ft.
- Approximate latitude, longitude
- +44.74694, -92.85250 (decimal degrees)
44°44'49" N, 92°51'09" W (degrees°minutes'seconds") - Approximate UTM coordinates
- 15/511676/4954850 (zone/easting/northing)
- USGS topographic map
- Hastings
- Inventory numbers
- MN 5895 (Minnesota bridge number)
BH 20351 (Bridgehunter.com ID) - Inspection (as of 04/2008)
- Deck condition rating: Fair (5 out of 9)
Superstructure condition rating: Poor (4 out of 9)
Substructure condition rating: Fair (5 out of 9)
Appraisal: Structurally deficient
Sufficiency rating: 38.1 (out of 100) - Average daily traffic (as of 2004)
- 32,500
Comments
This public domain image shows the Spiral Bridge on a postcard from the era. This was the only spiral bridge built in the United States - two others reportedly were built in Europe. There is a high bluff on the north side of the Mississippi River. This requires a long approach from the south in order to span the river at proper height and reach the bluff. The spiral allowed the bridge to terminate in downtown Hastings.
Drivers would enter the bridge in Hastings and make one complete circle before crossing the bridge. As it reached the end of its useful life, it was limited to 4 tons. After the new bridge was built, the city of Hastings did not have funds to restore and maintain the bridge, so it was lost.
The citizens of Hastings felt they lost a great landmark, and a replica has been built in a nearby park.
