Thomas Rukavina Memorial Bridge, Road bridge in Virginia, Minnesota, US
Thomas Rukavina Memorial Bridge is a road bridge in Virginia, Minnesota that spans across the Rouchleau Mine pit, connecting this area with southern cities via U.S. Route 53. The structure opened in 2017 and includes shared-use paths for bicycles and pedestrians.
The bridge was completed in 2017 and received its name in 2021 to honor Tom Rukavina, a state legislator who represented the Iron Range until 2019. The naming reflected his decades of service to the mining communities.
The bridge links communities across the Iron Range and represents a focal point where people come together in this historic mining area. You can see how it serves daily life here and connects neighborhoods that depend on this passage.
The bridge is open daily for vehicle traffic and includes separate paths for cyclists and pedestrians along the Mesabi Trail. Visitors can explore the area on foot or by bike and enjoy views of the former mining pit.
The state purchased mineral rights beneath the bridge to prevent it from needing relocation due to future mining activities. This arrangement shows how mining operations and infrastructure development are deeply linked in this area.
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