December 14, 2007
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I-35W Bridge over the MississippiDec. 14, 2007Greetings! If you have questions, please do not reply directly to this email. Contact Amy Barrett, Public Information Officer, at (612) 807-3264 or via e-mail at abarrett@flatironcorp.com.
Cranes migrate to I-35W Bridge construction site
The crane count at the construction site is up in the double digits now. In addition to the cranes provided locally, some have come to Minneapolis from as far away as Denver and Manitowoc. These cranes can lift between 15 and 250 tons, and they will be doing a lot of heavy lifting while they winter here. Some of the cranes-like the Dawes crane in the background of the photo-drill shafts. Other cranes-like the ALL crane in the foreground-then hoist rebar cages, weighing more than 100,000 pounds, into the shafts. The shafts are then filled with concrete.
With the drilling work occurring on both sides of the river and concrete pours taking place daily, the project is making steady progress toward finishing the underground phases of the project. Soon there will be much more to see above ground.
Construction UpdateFooting poured at Abutment 1
Following the pile driving that occurred in November at Abutment 1 (on the south end of the bridge), the steel H-piles were trimmed off, and forms were put in place in preparation for pouring the concrete footing for Abutment 1. Next week, possibly as soon as Monday, Flatiron-Manson Joint Venture crews will pour the concrete, which will then cure for about a week. Construction of the above-ground portion of Abutment 1 is expected to begin in early January.
Making beds
Have you noticed those arched structures that have appeared on the unused section of I-35W just north of Washington Avenue? Those are the first of eight beds-casting beds-on which the segments for the main span of the bridge will be formed, starting in mid-January. Two of the eight structures are done, two more are well underway, and construction on the final four will start soon.
Lighting up at night and drilling on Sundays
Lights may be noticeable from 6 p.m. to 4:30 a.m. as crews work occasional second shifts to keep the cranes busy drilling shafts. Drilling work may also occur on Sundays. This will be done to take advantage of good weather and make best use of equipment.
Getting a closer lookAttend a Saturday Sidewalk Superintendent Talk…
Sidewalk Superintendent Talks, led by Project Manager Peter Sanderson, take place every Saturday morning. These free events provide an opportunity to join Peter on an informal walk across the 10th Avenue Bridge, get a first-hand progress report, and ask questions about anything from the “Smart Bridge” sensor and monitoring system that will be built into the new bridge to cold-weather construction considerations. Everyone is welcome, including kids. Just meet in front of Grandma’s Saloon at Washington Avenue South and 19th Avenue by 11 a.m.
…or take a self-guided tour
Watch for four full-color signs showing renderings of the finished bridge and describing the construction process to be posted soon along the 10th Avenue Bridge. The signs will provide an opportunity for anyone who is curious to take a self-guided tour along the same route followed during the Saturday Sidewalk Superintendent Talks.
Other than viewing what’s happening from the 10th Avenue Bridge, the public is asked to stay away from the bridge construction area for safety reasons.
The Minnesota Department of Transportation (Mn/DOT) and the Flatiron-Manson construction team intend to build a high quality and safe bridge while minimizing disruptions to the surrounding neighborhoods.We will continue to distribute updates weekly and welcome your comments on how to improve the communication process between the project team and the community.
For more information on the I-35W project visit www.mndot.gov or call the I-35W Bridge Hotline at 612-236-6901.
