The beautiful scenery is a compelling piece that draws people to Champlin, Minnesota. The river town has countless parks and opportunities to look across the beautiful Mississippi river. Once such opportunity can even be driven on!
The Anoka-Champlin Mississippi River Bridge has a long and storied history, spanning nearly a century. It was originally built in 1929 and has undergone several rehabilitation efforts to ensure it is a safe bridge for vehicles, bikers, and pedestrians alike. Today, the bridge spans 995 feet and is used by Highway 169 to connect the cities of Anoka and Champlin.
The Anoka-Champlin Mississippi River Bridge is important for a number of reasons. First and foremost, it provides an essential link between two major Minnesota cities. Secondly, it is a concrete arch bridge, a rarity and an essential piece of Minnesota’s architectural history.
The Anoka-Champlin Mississippi River Bridge was originally built in 1929 at a cost of $500K. Minneapolis Bridge Company selected Horace E. Horton as the architect for the project. He later went on to build a total of seven Minnesota bridges. The construction of the bridge took two years to complete and involved approximately 200 workers.
When it was first built, the Anoka-Champlin Mississippi River Bridge was considered to be one of the most modern bridges in Minnesota. It featured four lanes for vehicular traffic, as well as pedestrian walkways on either side. Today, the bridge still serves its original purpose – to link Anoka and Champlin – but it has also become an important piece of Minnesota history.
In 1996, the Anoka-Champlin Mississippi River Bridge underwent a major rehabilitation effort. This effort involved replacing all of the deckings on the bridge, as well as upgrading the electrical and lighting systems. In addition, new handrails were installed on the pedestrian walkways and new asphalt was laid down on the roadway. As a result of these efforts, the Anoka-Champlin Mississippi River Bridge is now in excellent condition and is expected to serve drivers for many years to come!
The Anoka-Champlin Mississippi River Bridge is an important part of Minnesota’s history and infrastructure. If you’re ever in need of a quick trip between Anoka and Champlin, be sure to take advantage of this beautiful piece of architecture! And don’t forget that when you’re driving on it – you’re literally driving through history!
