User:Dthomsen8/sandbox/Pigeon River Bridge

Coordinates: 48°00′05″N 89°35′06″W / 48.00147°N 89.58500°W / 48.00147; -89.58500
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Pigeon River Bridge is an international bridge crossing the Pigeon River between Grand Portage State Park[1] in northeastern Minnesota and Pigeon River Provincial Park in the Canadian province of Ontario. The bridge is on Ontario Highway 61, where the highway crosses into the United States and becomes Minnesota State Highway 61.

History[edit]

Historic bridges[edit]

The original bridge over the Pigeon River was known as The Outlaw.

The road that would become Highway 61 was first constructed in 1916. The Pigeon River Timber Company had cleared lands surrounding the towns of Port Arthur and Fort William, but no road existed to connect to locations outside. A narrow wilderness trail reached as far as the Pigeon River, and was chosen as the route for the new road. The Department of Mines and Resources agreed to fund the project, and citizens proceeded to lay a new road as far as the river, beginning in 1913. This road was initially known as the "Scott Highway" after lumberman William Scott.[2] On the opposite shore, Cook County and the State of Minnesota constructed a new road north from Grand Marais. The roads were completed by late 1916,[3] but no bridge existed to connect them.[4]

In response, the Rotary Clubs of Port Arthur and Duluth met to discuss a solution. As an international crossing, any bridge over the river would require federal approval from both governments. Both sides agreed that the approval process would be too slow, and decided to construct the bridge regardless. "The Outlaw" bridge was opened by a travelling motorcade on August 18, 1917, finally permitting travel between Ontario and Minnesota.[5] To the surprise of the Rotary Clubs, J.E. Whitson, Roads Commissioner of Northern Ontario, and Howard Ferguson, Minister of Lands, Forest and Mines, were present at the opening, and agreed to pay the $768,000 ($15.3 million in 2024)[6] bridge cost.[3] The bridge and the Canadian road approaching it fell under the jurisdiction of the Department of Highways (now the Ministry of Transportation) on April 1, 1937, and the Scott Highway became Highway 61 on October 6.[7] The Outlaw was rebuilt as a steel truss structure in 1934 following several accidents.[3]

The Outlaw was replaced by this truss bridge in 1934. It remained in place until the new crossing opened in 1964.[3]

By 1962, construction was underway to bypass the inland route of the highway as well as the bridge.[8] This bypass opened on November 1, 1963;[9] the American approach was rebuilt along the shore of Lake Superior, and a new bridge constructed over the river 10 km (6.2 mi) to the east.[5] This bridge was opened on May 23, 1964.[3] Highway 61 was realigned as a result; the former route was redesignated as Highway 593 on September 1, 1964.[9]

In 1963, Charles MacNaughton, minister of the Department of Highways, announced plans for the Lakehead Expressway to be built on the western edge of the twin cities of Port Arthur and Fort William (which amalgamated in 1970 to form Thunder Bay).[10] Construction began in the late 1960s and progressed rapidly.[11][12] Following its completion by late 1970, Highway 61 was rerouted along it as far north as Arthur Street.[13][14][15] The former route followed Chippewa Road, turned north on James Street and then east on Frederica Street. From there, it turned north along Ford Street and followed it and Kingsway to Highway 11 and Highway 17 at Arthur Street. This route was renumbered as Highway 61B; it remained in place into the 1990s,[16] but was decommissioned by 1999.[17]

Current bridge[edit]

Beginning in 1991, Highway 61 was completely reconstructed south of Thunder Bay to the border in preparation for the 1995 World Nordic Ski Championships. This involved replacing eight bridges, improving sightlines, and adding five passing lanes and paved shoulders throughout the length of the highway.[18] The highway was extended 3 km (1.9 mi) to the north on August 17, 2007 when the Shabaqua Highway opened, redirecting Highway 11 and Highway 17 off Arthur Street.[17][19]

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Grand Portage State Park". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey. 2000-08-17. Retrieved 2016-02-28.
  2. ^ Bray, Robert Matthew; Epp, Ernest, eds. (1984). A Vast and magnificent land. Lakehead University. p. 61. ISBN 978-0-88663-001-0.
  3. ^ a b c d e Stamp, Robert M. (1992). Bridging the Border: Structures of Canadian–American Relations. Toronto: Dundurn Press. pp. 74–76. ISBN 1-55002-074-9.
  4. ^ Angus, Jim (July 7, 2010). "The Outlaw Bridge at Pigeon River". District 5580. Rotary Global History Fellowship. Retrieved September 8, 2010.
  5. ^ a b Wurzer, Cathy (2008). Tales of the Road: Highway 61. Minnesota Historical Society Press. pp. 10–12. ISBN 978-0-87351-626-6. Retrieved September 8, 2010.
  6. ^ 1688 to 1923: Geloso, Vincent, A Price Index for Canada, 1688 to 1850 (December 6, 2016). Afterwards, Canadian inflation numbers based on Statistics Canada tables 18-10-0005-01 (formerly CANSIM 326-0021) "Consumer Price Index, annual average, not seasonally adjusted". Statistics Canada. Retrieved April 17, 2021. and table 18-10-0004-13 "Consumer Price Index by product group, monthly, percentage change, not seasonally adjusted, Canada, provinces, Whitehorse, Yellowknife and Iqaluit". Statistics Canada. Retrieved 2024-05-08.
  7. ^ Shragge & Bagnato 1984, p. 71.
  8. ^ Ontario Road Map (Map). Cartography by C.P. Robins. Ontario Department of Highways. 1962. § J13–14.
  9. ^ a b AADT Traffic Volumes 1955–1969 And Traffic Collision Data 1967–1969. Ontario Department of Highways. 1969. p. 135.
  10. ^ Engineering and Contract Record (Report). Vol. 76. Hugh C. MacLean publications. 1963. p. 121. Retrieved September 12, 2010. The long awaited Lakehead Expressway moved to the brink of reality when Ontario Highways Minister Charles S. MacNaughton announced a new cost-sharing formula for the twin cities portion. This fixes the expressway cost at $15,770,000.
  11. ^ "Civic Administration". 20. Maclean–Hunter. 1968: 89. Retrieved September 11, 2010. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  12. ^ Proceedings of the convention (Report). Canadian Good Roads Association. 1969. p. 66. Retrieved September 12, 2010.
  13. ^ "Appendix 16 - Schedule of Designations and Redesignations of Sections". Annual Report (Report). Department of Highways and Communications. March 31, 1971. p. 151, 154.
  14. ^ Ontario Road Map (Map). Cartography by Photogrammetry Office. Department of Transportation and Communications. 1970. Thunder Bay inset.
  15. ^ Ontario Road Map (Map). Cartography by Photogrammetry Office. Department of Transportation and Communications. 1971. Thunder Bay inset.
  16. ^ Ontario Official Road Map (Map). Cartography by Geomatics Office. Government of Ontario. 1990. Thunder Bay inset.
  17. ^ a b Ontario Official Road Map (Map). Cartography by Geomatics Office. Government of Ontario. 1999. Thunder Bay inset.
  18. ^ "Highway 61". Northern Transportation Construction Projects 1991-92 (Report). Ministry of Transportation of Ontario. May 1991. p. 10. ISSN 0822-1480.
  19. ^ Kelly, Jim. "New stretch of Highway 11/17 to open today". The Chronicle–Journal. Thunder Bay. Retrieved March 12, 2011.

External links[edit]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Pigeon River.

48°00′05″N 89°35′06″W / 48.00147°N 89.58500°W / 48.00147; -89.58500

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