The Aerial Lift Bridge

This picturesque bridge allows cars over a stretch of Lake Superior to Park Point.  This bridge elevates as neeeded to let large freightors into the Duluth Shipping Harbor. These freightors are largely loaded with Minnesota grain and taconite.The taconite from Minnesota's Iron Range is shipped throught the great lakes to fill the demands of the steel industry in such places as Cleveland, Ohio and Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

Taconite is also a huge export to China, whose booming economy is in constant need of steel.  Recent technology being used in mining in Northern Minnesota will allow mines to produce steel nuggets.  The end user simply remelts these nuggets to produce the steel items they desire.  Steel nugget manufacturing allows mines to remove waste (taconite tailings) at the plant, maximizing space and profits from shipping.  This is turn helps mines meet the growing demand for steel worldwide.

The ability of mines in Minnesota to produce steel, while minimizing toxic waste is another benefit.  Third world and rapidly growing countries are unable, lacking regulations, or unwilling to share the cost of minimizing wastes contributing to global warming.

Aerial Lift Bridge