Bridging Time

Bridging Time. Mill Dam Bridge. , The original bridge in this location was a wooden structure built in 1898. The citizens requested this bridge to access new development in the "Normal Park" addition being developed at that time. , The wooden structure was replaced by a concrete bridge in the winter of 1936-1937. The bridge was designed by City Engineer Paul M. Barnes and built by T. M. Swingen and Son of Cooperstown, ND. The Public Works Administration financed 45% of the approximately $29,000 cost. The bridge served the community for 54 years. , The new concrete bridge was built in 1991 by Jim Swingen of Swingen Construction of Grand Forks, ND. Jim is the great-grandson of T. M. Swingen who built the previous bridge. , [photo and illustration captions] , . In order to make room for an adequate number of rail cars, a bridge extending only part way across the river (lower left) was built to complete the siding to the south. , . Subject to movement of ice in the spring, the elements and traffic, the original wooden bridge was in need of annual maintenance. It was finally condemned and replaced after 38 years of service. , . Mill Dam Bridge 1937-1991 The previous crossing was a 114 foot two span bridge featuring massive concrete abutments with longitudinal wings and a wall pier supported by untreated timber piling. The superstructure consisted of steel rolled beam girders, reinforced concrete deck and sidewalks and decorative concrete handrails that were typical of that period. , . Expansion Device Because abutments were virtually immovable, expansion and contraction due to temperature variation and movement caused by the weight of vehicles on the bridge were accommodated by a space in the superstructure over the pier in the center of the bridge. The gap in the deck and sidewalks was covered by a steel plate which slid on, an angle iron embedded in the concrete. , . This bridge [the 1936-1937 bridge] was made possible by money provided by the government to relieve unemployment during the Great Depression. Average wage for laborers was 55¢ to $1.20 per hour. Local gravels used in the concrete contained large quantities of shale and soft rock which can result in low durability, cracking and chipping. These conditions were evident in periodic bridge inspections and could have ultimately resulted in the failure of the structure. , . The first mill on this site was built in 1878 by Hiram Walker of Whalen, Minnesota. Walker milled the first flour ever made by a Valley City mill. He sold the mill to John Russell and his son-in-law Arthur Miller in 1882. , . There were so many additions to the original building it looked like patchwork so they decided to tear it down and modernize the operation in 1902. In early 1904 this new building was destroyed by fire so they erected another building in its place.