A Minnesota railway company is suing St. Paul for nearly $500,000 based on claims that the city failed to adequately maintain the area around a railroad bridge.

The neglect, the suit claims, subsequently rendered the structure unsafe.

Minnesota Commercial Railway Co. filed the lawsuit in Ramsey County District Court this week, according to the civil complaint.

It seeks more than $440,000 from the city to cover costs the company assumed to fix the bridge as well as proceeds from business it lost while it was under repair, the suit says.

The bridge spans Como Avenue and is used by Minnesota Commercial Railway for its train activity.

The suit alleges that the city’s use of salt for snow-melting that was spread onto and around the bridge’s piers caused the structure to erode and deteriorate. It also claims that the city failed to properly design a drain system under the bridge, causing salty water to pool under the structure.

When the railroad company asked the city to pay to repair the bridge, which the company leases from a third party, it refused, the suit said.

It accuses the city of breach of contract, negligence and other claims.

Robert Kuderer, an attorney for the company, said the city was contractually obligated to maintain the right-of-way surrounding the bridge.

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The city denied the company’s allegations in an answer to the complaint filed Thursday.

It went on to suggest that any problems with the bridge were due to Minnesota Commercial Railway’s own neglect, not the city’s, and requested that the suit be dismissed.

St. Paul City Attorney Samuel Clark declined to comment on the pending litigation.