Wanted: Buyer for Redwood County’s Gold Mine Bridge for $1

REDWOOD FALLS, Minn. (KEYC) - Redwood County has until the end of the year to sell the old Gold Mine Bridge over the Minnesota River. The county’s asking price remains $1.

Nick Klisch, the county engineer, says that due to cracks in key structural components on the bridge, which was built in 1903, it’s too expensive for the county to repair or move itself.

“It’s just not safe for use right now. Even to be used as a pedestrian bridge, it would need some significant rehabilitation,” Klisch said.

In its ideal form, Klisch says the bridge can hold 5 tons, but it is a very narrow fit for a lot of modern vehicles and farm equipment.

Klisch says there are several potential uses he could see for the bridge, as long as someone is willing to buy it and transport it.

It could become part of a bike or pedestrian trail or become a feature of a park.

The bridge has survived multiple floods and its over 123 years old. Klisch says it is also eligible for historic status, which could make it a valuable piece of architecture to preserve.

But the county says the moving, repairs, and reinstallation are likely to be expensive. A similar project with Mankato’s Kern Bridge was estimated to cost around $10 million.

Klisch says if the buyer is a public entity or willing to install it as part of a public project, state grants may be available to cover part of the cost.

The county will have until the end of December to choose a buyer.

Regardless of if a sale goes through, he says the county hopes to begin construction of a replacement bridge by the end of 2026.

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