outhern 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]
Early History

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).
Current Status

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.[4]

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.
[5] 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.[6] 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.[7] 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.[citation needed] The TC&W system map, however, shows the
railroad as serving Savage from the north.[8]
References

"Dan Patch Line Bridge". John A. Weeks III.

"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.
"Dan Patch Line Bridge". Structurae.
"Proposed Freight Rail Improvements And Investments" (PDF). Retrieved January 1,
2022.
Davies, Phil (April 20, 2015). "The little railroads that could". Federal Reserve
Bank of Minneapolis: Fedgazette.
Reinan, John (September 19, 2015). "Bloomington, Savage at odds over future of Dan
Patch bridge crossing". Star Tribune. Minneapolis, Minnesota. Retrieved March 8,
2016.
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.

https://tcwr.net/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/TCW.MPL_.SMRR_.Map_.082313.Screen-
11-4-13.pdf[bare URL]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Dan Patch Line Bridge.

Bridges of the Minnesota River
Upstream
Bloomington Ferry Trail Bridge
Dan Patch Line Bridge
Canadian Pacific Railway Downstream
I-35W Minnesota River bridge
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