ðə bɹˈɪdʒ ɪz nˈeɪmd fɔːɹ bˈɛɾi ˈædkɪnz, ɐ mˌɪnɪsˈoʊɾə dˌɛməkɹˈæɾɪk fˈɑːɹmɚ lˈeɪbɚ pˈɑːɹɾi stˈeɪt sˈɛnəɾɚ fɹʌm sənt. mˈaɪkəl, mˌɪnɪsˈoʊɾə hˌuː sˈɜːvd twˈɛlv jˈɪɹz ɪnðə mˌɪnɪsˈoʊɾə lˈɛdʒɪslətʃɚ.
The bridge is named for Betty Adkins, a Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party state senator from St. Michael, Minnesota who served 12 years in the Minnesota Legislature.