Dan Patch Line Bridge

The Dan Patch Line Bridge is a railroad swing bridge that carries the Canadian Pacific Railway's MN&S Subdivision across the Minnesota River. The MN&S Subdivision originated as the Minneapolis, St. Paul, Rochester and Dubuque Electric Traction Company, more commonly known as the Dan Patch Lines. Today's name for the rail line comes from the Minneapolis, Northfield and Southern Railroad, which took over the Dan Patch route after the original railroad fell into bankruptcy. Despite being met by Canadian Pacific rails at either end, the bridge itself is owned by the Twin Cities and Western Railroad which has trackage rights on the CP line to the north. The TC&W purchased the bridge in order to protect a route that may become important in the future.[2]

Dan Patch Line Bridge
The swing span as seen from the north (Bloomington) side of the river. The bridge is in its open position.
Coordinates44°47′25″N 93°21′10″W
CarriesOne rail crossing; formerly two traffic lanes
CrossesMinnesota River
LocaleBloomington, Minnesota and Savage, Minnesota
ID numberN/A
Characteristics
DesignSwing bridge
Total length489 feet[1]
Clearance below20 feet
History
Opened1908

The bridge was built by Marion W. Savage, owner of the racehorse Dan Patch as part of a railroad extending from Minneapolis to Northfield. A single-lane deck to carry motor vehicles was added to the east side of the bridge, with semaphore traffic lights allowing alternate travel to the north and south. The traffic deck was removed in the 1980s. The road side of the bridge carried CSAH-34[3] (Normandale Road on the north side, and Vernon Road on the south side).

Under the 2010 Minnesota State Rail Plan, the Dan Patch Line Bridge would be replaced with a new one track bridge that would cost around $34 million.

In 2015, it was reported that TC&W planned to repair the bridge and resume direct rail access to the Post Savage terminals along the south banks of Minnesota River.[4] The city of Savage subsequently announced a study to examine a new road crossing at the bridge. TC&W is supportive of a new road crossing, but the city of Bloomington is not.[5] In 2016, it was announced that the bridge was being reopened for use due to an expected surge in grain traffic, with the bridge to see approximately one grain train per day.[6] However rail service to the Port of Savage via the Dan Patch Line Bridge has not begun as of 2018. Twin Cities & Western continues to transport grain to the rail yards in St. Paul for interchange with Union Pacific, and Union Pacific transports the rest of the way to Savage via the Mankato Subdivision.

References
  1. "Dan Patch Line Bridge". John A. Weeks III.
  2. "TCWR Freight Rail Realignment Study" (PDF). Hennepin County Regional Railroad Authority/TKDA. November 18, 2009. p. 6. Archived from the original (PDF) on July 18, 2011. Retrieved October 8, 2010.
  3. "Dan Patch Line Bridge". Structurae.
  4. Davies, Phil (April 20, 2015). "The little railroads that could". Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis: Fedgazette.
  5. Reinan, John (September 19, 2015). "Bloomington, Savage at odds over future of Dan Patch bridge crossing". Star Tribune. Minneapolis, Minnesota. Retrieved March 8, 2016.
  6. Reinan, John (February 29, 2016). "Dan Patch bridge over Minnesota River will be swinging again this spring". Star Tribune. Minneapolis, Minnesota. Retrieved March 8, 2016.
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