The Hastings High Bridge was built in the early 1950s to replace the old Spiral Bridge. Like the Spiral Bridge it became an icon of the town, but eventually age and increasing traffic demands took it’s toll. It was the only two-lane stretch on the expressway from Hastings to downtown St. Paul, causing a horrific traffic congestion problem. Residents clamored for a new bridge, but it was a low priority for Mn/DOT. This was the time when Molnau was appointed as a stooge by governor Pawlenty specifically to slash the agencies budget to shreds. The bridge could have probably been patched up another decade or too so nothing meaningful on a replacement was done. Then another bridge fell…
Alhough it’s hard to say if Mn/DOT cost cutting was the reason for the collapse of the I-35W bridge (one proposal to reinforce it was rejected because there were fears it might actually weaken it, not just for cost reasons) , it was an easy scapegoat. The legislature overrode Pawlenties veto of a gasoline tax increase throwing money into Mn/DOT’s lap to replace all the structurally deficient bridges in the state, and thus things got moving. Hastings decided they wanted a new signature bridge, although this choice was not without controversy, some wanted a vanilla girder bridge to make it easier for motorists to see the river and not detract from the buildings). Contractors were invited to bid on either tied arch span or a cable stayed bridge, and a tied arch span was what was bid on. Although the decision was aesthetic, unlike the Lowry Bridge there was at least an engineering reason not to built a generic bridge, an arch allowed a wider channel for barges.
The new bridge was only built to be four lanes. Although it’s forecast to be congested at the end of the planning horizon, building six lanes would have just moved the problem to once traffic wound up on Vermillion Street, and the capacity problem there would never be solved. Ultimately I think a bypass should be built when congestion mounts to get through traffic off the bridge and Vermillion Street. I also think the old bridge should have been saved; it was offered to the city of Hastings but they didn’t want it. They’re still lamenting the destruction of the spiral bridge and in time I think they will wish they had preserved this one.
April 2012
The only casualty of the bridge construction was a modern warehouse in back for this H.D Hudson Company in a historic building. Although there was space to rebuild on site, the factory (which made plastic spray nozzles) instead opted to pick up and move their entire operation to the industrial park south of town. Three years later the company, by now mostly operating in Chicagoland, shut down their entire Hasting operation The original factory building is still waiting for repurposing, perhaps as housing.
August 2012
The new bridge arches were fabricated on temporary shorings a few blocks away in a riverside park
September 2012
Lifting Day, Sept 23 2012
I was originally going to be on vacation in North Carolina during lifting day, but it was delayed, so I was able to witness it.
January 2013
June 2013
As you can see the new bridge carried two lane two-way traffic for a while until the final segment could be tied into the old road. Notice the jog to avoid the old bridge. In 100 years the next bridge will probably be built straight inline with the street.
The opening ceremony was delayed because some officials were……… stuck in traffic. After the ceremony, everyone got a change to walk on the old bridge
Finally the police began encouraging people to leave. I stayed with the last group and was one of the last dozen or so members of the public to ever use the bridge.
November 2013
