9 Iconic Bridges in North Dakota
The Northern Pacific Railroad Bridge spanning the Missouri River between Bismarck and Mandan opened up travel to the west in 1882. That traffic led to the growth of Bismarck (Edwinton) and eventually points west. Bridges and their impacts have played a key role in North Dakota history. Here are several bridges of note.
At 3,860 long and 162 feet above the river bed below, the Hi-Line Bridge is one of the highest and longest singletrack railroad bridges in the nation. It opened in 1908.
The tree-lined, rolling hills of this valley are speckled with quaint towns and farmsteads, gently flowing streams and bridges that lend to its American charm.
When completed in 1882, the bridge allowed for the continued expansion of the railroad and people west of the Missouri River. The sisters cities of Bismarck (Edwinton) and Mandan flourished.
Liberty Memorial Bridge between Bismarck and Mandan was the first roadway bridge across the Missouri River. It link coast-to-coast U.S. Highway 10 when it was completed in 1920.
The Fairview Lift Bridge, just inside the North Dakota-Montana border and now closed to vehicle and rail traffic, stretches 1,320 feet across the Yellowstone River and has been turned into a walkway. The Great Northern Railroad bridge
The longest bridge in North Dakota at nearly one mile, Four Bears Bridge spans a portion of Lake Sakakawea. The bridge design honors 19 tribal chiefs of the Mandan, Hidatsa and Arikara tribes.
Built in 1929, the Sorlie Bridge Connects Grand Forks and East Grand Forks, Minn. It was named after North Dakota's 14th governor, Arthur Sorlie.
The iconic Brick Mine Bridge spans the Pembina River in the scenic Pembina Gorge. The bridge is an access point used by canoers and kayakers for access to the Pembina River.
The bridge north of Killdeer was built over the Little Missouri River in 1930, before there was even a road to the bridge. Highway 22 eventually linked the bridge to the outside world, but not for another 20 years. A new bridge now stands in its place.