Border bridge slated for 2018 replacement

By Ken Johnston
Editor

The International Bridge between Rainy River and Baudette is less than 50 years old but may have to be replaced in the near future.
Minnesota Department of Transportation (MN DoT) reported publically last week that the auto bridge between Rainy River and Baudette will need to be replaced by 2018.
According to an article in the Baudette Region last Wednesday the bridge has been classified as a Tier 1, fracture critical. That means the bridge has a sufficiency rating of 50 out of 100.
The bridge has a steel superstructure with tension carrying members arranged in a manner that if one fails the bridge could collapse. It does not mean the bridge is unsafe but other bridges that are “fracture critical” do not even make the MN DoT list for repairs before 2028.
Funding of about $2.5 million is being set aside to do the U.S. side of the bridge. There was the following statement from the Ontario Ministry of Transportation’s Brian Snell:
“The Rainy River/Baudette international bridge is jointly owned between Ontario and the state of Minnesota. Since this is an international bridge we have co-operatively worked with the state on inspections and bridge planning for rehabilitation and/or replacement. We are aware that Minnesota has preliminarily planned the replacement of this bridge in 2018 at the end of their 10 year planning horizon. Given the age of this bridge the province recognizes the eventual need for replacement.
We have had ongoing discussions with the Minnesota Department of Transportation regarding this bridge and will continue this dialogue to develop an appropriate investment strategy and timing.”
The bridge was built in the late 1950s and opened in the early 1960s. It was a toll bridge from that time until it was paid off completely on Dec. 31, 1988. At that time it was supposed to revert to Canadian ownership. After several years of wrangling it was decided that the federal government would give Ontario funding to maintain the bridge in a joint Ontario-Minnesota effort.