Meeting Date: April 5, 2023
To: Members of the Heritage Preservation Commission
From: Revee Needham, Assistant City Planner
Title
Provide input on MnDOT Bridge Study.
Body
Action Requested:
The Heritage Preservation Commission is asked to provide input to MnDOT on their 1971-1995 Bridge Study.
Summary Report:
The Minnesota State Historic Preservation Office has shared the following information on the Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT) Bridge Study.
Historic bridges are an important part of Minnesota’s transportation and cultural history. They physically convey the history of design and engineering in the state and may also be associated with important historic trends, events, or people. As part of its ongoing historic bridge identification efforts, the Minnesota Department of Transportation has commissioned Mead & Hunt, Inc. to assist with an update to the Minnesota Historic Bridge Inventory, which includes bridges built from 1971 through 1995. The purpose of this study is to aid in the management and preservation of historic bridges. The consideration of options for these structures is mandated by federal law, in particular Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966.
A comprehensive identification of significant bridges will allow MnDOT to make informed and timely reviews of proposed projects that will impact historic properties in the future. To achieve this, Mead & Hunt’s team is researching the history of the state’s bridges and identifying those built during the 1971-1995 period that may possess historic significance for their association with historic events, important individuals, or engineering and design. These bridges will be evaluated for listing in the National Register of Historic Places.
MnDOT has previously conducted inventories of historic bridges constructed in 1970 and earlier. The most recent study, Evaluation Report and Historic Context: Minnesota Bridges, 1955-1970, was completed in July 2013. A history of bridges built during the current study period and evaluation criteria report are available upon request from the project team. If you have information about a potentially significant bridge in your community built between 1971 and 1995, please tell us about it! Some questions to consider:
• Are there any bridges on public roads in your community that may have local historic interest?
• Why is the bridge important to the history of your area? For example, a local bridge may have served as a gateway to a community or created access to nearby commercial areas or recreational parks.
• Do any bridges in your area have interesting historical associations? For example, a bridge may have been the site of a local celebration, parade, protest, or historical event.
To share your information, please visit MnDOT’s Historic Bridges webpage at https://www.dot.state.mn.us/historicbridges/studies.html to access the electronic bridge information form. Completed forms will be reviewed by the project team. If you have additional questions or would like to speak to a member of the project team, please email the team at MNbridges7195@meadhunt.com.
Alternative Options:
N/A
Financial Impacts:
N/A
Tentative Timeline:
N/A