The Tom Rukavina Memorial Bridge spans the Rouchleau Mine Pit. The bridge opened in 2017, and is 1,125 feet long and 204 feet tall, which makes it the tallest bridge in Minnesota. It is also one of the busiest sections of highway on the Iron Range, with about 22,000 vehicles crossing it on U.S. Hwy 53 each day. In addition to that traffic the bridge also sees bike, ATV, snowmobile, and walking use. More information about the bridge can be found here.
Rouchleau Pit is one of the deepest open pit mines in Minnesota, and the source of water for the city of Virginia.
The bridge was named after state legislator Tom Rukavina in 2021, following his death. He had served in the Minnesota House of Representatives for thirteen terms, and was born in Virginia.
There are many pictures to be found online of the view from the bridge. My hope is that people head on out to the center and experience it for themselves. It is worth the short walk - about one mile round trip from the parking coordinates.
To log this virtual geocache send me answers to the following:
1) What is the bridge number? (to be found on a plaque near the east end of the bridge)
Please note - the bridge number is not mounted on the brick pillar at the end of the bridge. See picture below for what to look for.
As of October 2023, if the bridge number is not sent this will not be a find.
2) How many bolts hold each of the wooden boards located along the base of the bike trail at /near to posted coordinates on the bridge in place?
Bonus Point: Post a photograph you took while visiting the bridge, highlighting a not-so-typically scenic aspect. I'll go first... Here is the picture I took of the shadow of the bridge.
Please abide by all the Mesabi Trail policies while finding this cache. Dogs must be leashed while on the trail.
Virtual Rewards 3.0 - 2022-2023
This Virtual Cache is part of a limited release of Virtuals created between March 1, 2022 and March 1, 2023. Only 4,000 cache owners were given the opportunity to hide a Virtual Cache. Learn more about Virtual Rewards 3.0 on the Geocaching Blog.