March 7, 2008
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I-35W Bridge over the MississippiMarch 7, 2008Greetings! If you have questions, please do not reply directly to this email. Contact Amy Barrett, Public Information Officer, at (612) 236-6901 or via e-mail at abarrett@flatironcorp.com.
I-35W Bridge Columns Reaching Full Height
By the end of next week, all of the columns at Pier 2 (pictured above in the foreground), Pier 3 (across the river) and Pier 4 (behind Pier 3) will have reached their full height of 70 feet, marking another major milestone for the I-35W Bridge Project. This past week, crews poured the top third of the columns at Pier 2 southbound.
They also poured the middle third of the columns at Pier 3 northbound. The last of the concrete for the columns — at Pier 4 southbound and at Pier 3 northbound — is scheduled to be poured next week.
“Big Ben” Heads North to Minneapolis
The barge that will be used to install the pre-cast segments on the bridge is on its way to Minneapolis. It left Homa, Louisiana — near New Orleans — on Tuesday afternoon, March 4. Traveling at an average speed of about four knots, it will make its way upriver over the next three weeks or so, passing through 29 locks along the way. The ringer crane that will be mounted atop the barge is being trucked to Minneapolis from Seattle. When the barge and the crane arrive later this month, they will be assembled on-site. The barge-mounted ringer crane has been nicknamed “Big Ben,” after Project Manager Peter Sanderson’s grandson.
Construction Update
Other progress this past week included:- pouring the first section of the north abutment wall (Abutment 5);
- pouring the footings for the Second Street Bridge;
- completing the installation of all of the steel supports (H-piles) for the retaining wall along the southbound freeway entrance ramp at University Avenue; and
- pouring 7 pre-cast segments in the casting yard, bringing the total number of completed segments to 12 of the 120 needed for the main span.
In addition to completing the piers, work scheduled the week of March 10 includes:
- pouring the next section of Abutment 5;
- forming and pouring the first part of the walls that will support the Second Street Bridge; and
- installing rebar for Span 1 of the superstructure.
Potential Noise Impacts
A concrete crusher will be set up early next week on I-35W, just north of Fourth Street SE. The crusher will break up the pieces of the old roadway so that they can be recycled and used for the base of the new roadway. A loud, steady hum and back-up alarms will be noticeable while the crusher is in use. Crushing will last for about seven to 10 days. Out of consideration for people living and working in the area, the crushing will only take place between 7 a.m. and 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday.
Hammering noise will also be noticeable from time to time throughout the next month or so as crews build the temporary support structures known as “falsework” that will support the forms for the spans of the bridge on both sides of the river. The photo above shows the progress made this past week on the falsework on the north side of the river. Toward the end of the month, the first of the concrete for the side spans will be poured.
Potential Light Impacts
Crews are working night shifts seven days a week on both sides of the river as well as in the casting yard. Lights may be noticeable between 5:30 p.m. and 4 a.m.
Potential Traffic Impacts
Trucks hauling various material will be entering and departing from the site regularly during daylight hours, going east on Second Street Southeast, north on 11th Avenue Southeast, and then east on University Avenue. There may also be some truck traffic on south side along Fifth Street South, 12th Avenue and 13th Avenue and Washington Avenue.
Getting a Closer Look
Upcoming Television Coverage of Bridge Project - Tune in to FOX 9 News at 6:30 a.m. Tuesday, March 11, for the latest on the project. Mn/DOT Project Manager Jon Chiglo will provide a report on construction live from the bridge site.
Try the touch-screen kiosks at Mill City Museum and the airport -
Touch-screen kiosks that provide a variety of information about the bridge, including a photo gallery, a timetable and animations showing what the finished bridge will look like from a helicopter, a boat and a car are available in the Mill City Museum lobby and at Concourse C at the Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport.Visit the website – If you haven’t been to the website for a while, you should take a look. It includes information about Smart Bridge technology and cold weather construction and includes a Virtual Sidewalk Tour with graphics and information on the construction process as well as animations showing the finished bridge from the vantage point of a helicopter, a boat and a car.
Access the webcams – Two webcams are now in place to show what is happening at the construction site. One provides a panoramic view of the entire site, looking east from a rooftop on the north side of the Mississippi River. The other camera is mounted on a light pole on the 10th Avenue Bridge and will provide periodic close-ups on construction activities. To see the webcam views, visit the project website at www.mndot.gov.Attend a Sidewalk Superintendent Talk - These weekly events provide an opportunity to accompany project representatives on a walk across the 10th Avenue Bridge, where you can see the construction workers in action and ask questions about the project. If you’d like to participate, meet in the parking lot in front of Grandma’s restaurant at 19th and Washington Avenues by 11 a.m. on any Saturday.Take a self-guided tour - Signs describing the design/build process are mounted along the 10th Avenue Bridge.Call the hotline - If you have any questions about the project, please call the hotline at 612-236-6901 between 7 a.m. and 8 p.m. daily. Messages left after 8 p.m. will be returned first thing the next morning.Request a presentation - Representatives of Mn/DOT and Flatiron-Manson are willing and eager to provide project updates to neighborhood associations, business associations, and other groups. To arrange a presentation, please call the hotline, 612-236-6901.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.govor call the I-35W Bridge Hotline at 612-236-6901.
