Sorlie Memorial Bridge - Grand Forks, North Dakota - U.S. National Register of Historic Places on Waymarking.com

Constructed in 1929 by the Minneapolis Bridge Company, the Sorlie Memorial Bridge was named for North Dakota's 14th governor, Arthur G. Sorlie.

Plaques on either end identify Sorlie as "a true friend of better roads and bridges".

According to the multiple property submission (MPS) for Historic Roadway Bridges of North Dakota: (...) the Sorlie Memorial Bridge received national attention for its substructure. Clifford Johnson, bridge engineer for the North Dakota Highway Department, praised the design by his department as "the boldest attempt yet made at resisting or absorbing the bank movement of the Red River with a permanent structure." The unusual feature of the bridge was the end bearing. Four 38-inch wheels resting on a track 7% feet long under the end of each truss allowed for movement of the banks and expansion and contraction of the superstructure of up to two feet. With each movement of two feet, the bridge was designed to be "raised slightly" while the tracks under the wheels were moved back.

The bridge became submerged during the Red River flood of 1997.

County / Borough / Parish: Great Forks Year listed: 1999 Historic (Areas of) Significance: Event, Architecture/Engineering Periods of significance: 1925-1949 Historic function: Transportation, road-related Current function: Transportation, road-related Privately owned?: no Primary Web Site: [Web Link] Secondary Website 1: [Web Link] Secondary Website 2: [Web Link] Street address: Not listed Season start / Season finish: Not listed Hours of operation: Not listed National Historic Landmark Link: Not listed

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