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Month: June 2008
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I-35W Bridge over the MississippiJune 23, 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.Bridge’s Main Span Nearly Half Done
With 58 of the 120 total pre-cast segments already installed, the main span of the I-35W Bridge over the Mississippi (above) is nearly half done. The barge crane will continue installing up to six segments a day until the main span is complete.Construction Update
Other construction activities scheduled for the week of June 23 include:
- Continuing to paint Span 1 on the south side of the river (see the before and after views in the photo above) and beginning to paint Span 3 on the north side.
- Setting up a concrete batch plant and preparing to pave sections of the I-35W roadway north of the river.
- Installing fencing along the highway from University Avenue to Fourth Street Southeast.
- Installing foundations for lighting and signs near the entrance and exit ramps at University Avenue and Washington Avenue.
- Pouring the northbound lanes of Span 4, which will bridge the gap between Pier 4 and Abutment 5 on the north side.
The aerial photo below shows, from top to bottom, Span 1 on the south bank of the Mississippi, the narrowing gap over the river where the main span is being constructed, Span 3, the northbound lanes of Span 4, a section of highway yet to be paved, the partially paved Second Street Bridge, and more unpaved highway, including the exit ramp to University Avenue on the left.
Potential Noise Impacts
- The concrete crushing machine that was previously used on the north side of the project is now set up at Abutment 1 on the south side. As crews complete the demolition of the old road bed on I-35W, the crusher will break the large chunks of concrete into gravel that can be used for the base of the new roadway. The concrete crusher will operate between 7 a.m. and 9 p.m. until the end of the week.
- As night-time paving begins on the north side of the project, backup alarms may be increasingly noticeable in that area.
- Following paving, crews will need to make cuts in the concrete to prevent cracking. Sawing the expansion joints will create noise intermittently during day and night shifts.
Potential Traffic Impacts
As the project progresses, residents and commuters may encounter activities that will affect traffic in the area. In particular:
- Crews will periodically close 13th Avenue South from the casting yard entrance to West River Parkway as they transport pre-cast segments to the river. Hauling operations will take place between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. intermittently until the end of June. The road will close for up to 10 minutes each time a segment is moved.
- Construction traffic will continue in the vicinity of the site. Some of the streets affected include Second Street Southeast (between 11th Avenue Southeast and Sixth Avenue Southeast), First Street South and 19th Avenue South, Bluff Street south to 13th Avenue South, and Second Street South (between 13th Avenue South and 11th Avenue South).
Potential Light Impacts
Crews are working night shifts seven days a week on both sides of the river. Lights and construction traffic may be noticeable between 5:30 p.m. and 4 a.m.
Planning Your Route to Downtown Minneapolis – If you are planning to drive to downtown Minneapolis, you can use the links below to plan your route:
City of Minneapolis Route Planner http://www.ci.minneapolis.mn.us/traffic/routeplannerintro.aspMinnesota Department of TransportationGetting a Closer Look
Watch upcoming TV coverage – Jon Chiglo, Mn/DOT’s project manager, will describe progress about the erection of the main span of the bridge and other construction components during a live interview on Sunday, June 29. Tune in to WCCO TV (Channel 4) between 10:30 and 11 a.m.Visit the website - The website offers up-to-date information, presentations, graphics, photos and animations, as well as interesting features on workers on the project. You can access the website at www.mndot.gov.Access the webcams - One provides a panoramic view of the entire construction 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 of 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 morning of the next business day.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. -
The new 35W bridge: An inside look (literally)
The new 35W bridge: An inside look (literally)
Posted on June 19th, 2008 – 5:10 AM
By RoadguyI got the chance to visit the construction site of the new 35W bridge last week, and I have to say that the place feels a bit like the back lot of a movie studio. Let’s have a click-to-enlarge look:
There are mountains of concrete that might have been broken up by Godzilla…
… terraces befitting an adventure movie set in the Andes …
… and a portal straight out of “Battlestar Galactica”:
Sadly, no Hollywood blockbusters are actually being filmed on the site. The broken-up concrete is the old 35W pavement near Washington Aveune, the “terraces” are where the new roadbed is being dug, and the “portal” — on the south end of the bridge — is where Roadguy got to go inside one of the girders that make up the bridge:
It was very “Indiana Jones,” complete with a small pool of murky water to wade through. This view is looking toward the river; the narrow opening where the light is coming from is directly over the pier and required some ladder action:
(So much for using the inside of the girder for an extra lane of traffic.)
Here’s the view looking back toward land from the farthest segment over the water:
The tubes sticking out of the floor are for injecting grout, and if you look closely, you’ll see evidence of recent human activity: some aluminum cans and half an orange.
Back in the cast-in-place girder — the part over West River Parkway — the ceiling has dozens of these:
Each one corresponds to a precast segment being attached over the river. Cables are threaded through:
And secured like this…
…with these:
Outside the bridge, this guy was doing the threading, sending the cables hundreds of feet into the interior:
Inside, it remained quiet:
The trapeze-looking things hanging from the ceiling will eventually hold lights, anti-icing equipment and “smart” technology that will monitor the bridge. The three conduits on each side will hold mega-cables that will run the length of the bridge.
Also happening while I was there: Paint…
… and everybody’s favorite color, “snowbound white,” got everywhere:
And finally, a shot from up on the ever-expanding deck, where there’s no plumbing, but there is…
No, it’s not for a party; it’s for keeping concrete at the right temperature. But even without ice, the tour would have been pretty darn cool.
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I-35W Bridge over the MississippiJune 16, 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 Will Be “Snowbound” This Week
Span 1 of the I-35W Bridge on the south side of the Mississippi (on the left side of the photo above) will undergo a dramatic transformation this week as crews begin painting it “Snowbound” white.Crews spent last week sandblasting the surface of Span 1 and painting a test panel in preparation for this week’s painting. Working from the interior to the exterior, crews will apply two coats of plaster, then spray on a top coat of the “Snowbound” white acrylic paint.The color is one of several elements selected by a group of citizens involved in a community meeting called a design charette last fall. In the meeting, facilitated by FIGG Engineering, the group selected a number of design elements for the bridge, including column shape, bridge color, some aspects of the lighting, the bridge railing style and the type of retaining walls. A Visual Quality Committee–which includes several of the original design charette participants–has continued to meet periodically to advise the contractor on visual elements of the bridge.Construction Update
Other construction activities completed the week of June 9 included:
- Installing pre-cast concrete segments to form the main span of the bridge. Workers will have installed 38 of the 120 total segments by the end of today–32 on the south side (above) and six on the north side. The Lower St. Anthony Falls Lock and Dam has been reopened to boat traffic during the day.
- Completing the final deck pour for Span 3 on the north side of the river.
- Completing the first of three deck pours for the Second Street Bridge.
Construction activities scheduled for the week of June 16 include:- Placing up to six segments a day to extend the main span across the Mississippi. Crews will be placing segments on both sides of the river, working toward the middle, with a closure pour anticipated in early July.
- Pouring the concrete for the webs and soffits (sides and bottoms) of Span 4, which will connect Span 3 with Abutment 5 on the north side of the project.
- Dismantling the casting yard in preparation for breaking up the old roadway so that it can be graded and paved.
- Paving 14th Avenue South.
- Continuing the bridge deck concrete pours for the 2nd Street
Bridge on the north side of the project. - Building cast-in-place retaining walls for the University Avenue
on- and off-ramps. - Grading and other preparation for paving Second Street, the on/off ramps at University Avenue and the stretch of highway from University to Fourth Street Southeast (paving in these areas is scheduled to begin the week of June 23).
Potential Noise and Light Impacts
- Crews will continue the demolition of the old road bed on I-35W on the south side of the river. This work involves the use of equipment to break up the old roadway so it can be rebuilt. As a result, significant thumping noise may occur. This work will take place between 7 a.m. and 9 p.m. and could last until June 23.
- As grading and other “dirt work” activities continue on the south side of the project, backup alarms may be noticeable in that area.
- 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
As the project progresses, residents and commuters may encounter activities that will affect traffic in the area. In particular:- Crews will periodically close 13th Avenue South from the casting yard entrance to West River Parkway (above) as they transport pre-cast segments to the river. Hauling operations will take place between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. intermittently until the end of June. The road will close for up to 10 minutes each time a segment is moved.
- Construction traffic will continue in the vicinity of the site. Some of the streets affected include Second Street Southeast (between 11th Avenue Southeast and Sixth Avenue Southeast), First Street South and 19th Avenue South, Bluff Street (between I-35W and 13th Avenue South), and Second Street South (between 13th Avenue South and 11th Avenue South).
City of Minneapolis Route Planner http://www.ci.minneapolis.mn.us/traffic/routeplannerintro.aspMinnesota Department of TransportationGetting a Closer Look
Visit the website - The website offers up-to-date information, presentations, graphics, photos and animations, as well as interesting features on workers on the project. You can access the website at www.mndot.gov.Access the webcams - One provides a panoramic view of the entire construction 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 of 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 morning of the next business day.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. -
In 2000, a focus on the critical I-35W bridge gussets.
In 2000, a focus on the critical I-35W bridge gussets
Seven years before the Interstate 35W bridge fell, a consulting firm sent Minnesota officials a proposal to shore up the aging structure that included examining its gusset plates — the connections that federal investigators now believe likely played a role in the collapse.
The preliminary plan from HNTB Corp. of Kansas City, which was buried among hundreds of documents released at a recent legislative hearing, has gone largely unnoticed in the debate over the disaster. The company did its study at no cost in an attempt to gain a state contract for the bridge work but, in the end, wasn’t hired by the Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT).
A series of follow-up memos in 2000 and 2001 featured drawings of how HNTB planned to strengthen areas immediately surrounding the gusset plates and included renderings of “supplemental plates” and a “new oversize gusset.” Other drawings called for adding supplemental supports in the vicinity of the gusset plates.
Although a top HNTB official said recently that it’s impossible to say whether the company would have found the critical gusset plate problems now under investigation, the proposal is a rare documented instance in which experts explicitly planned to examine gusset plates.
“You have to check connections,” Ray McCabe, HNTB’s national bridge and tunnel director, said in describing what the company intended. “When you say connections, you naturally are describing the connections of these [large steel] members, which connect to gusset plates,” he said. “You can’t separate the bolts and the gusset; they form the connection.”
McCabe said the study mirrored what MnDOT was also seeking — a plan to add redundancy to a bridge that could collapse if one critical part failed.
“If the redundant scheme required a new gusset plate, or [it was needed] to facilitate a connection, most likely that would have been” done, McCabe said of HNTB’s plan.
Piqued investigators’ interest
The plan did pique the interest of Gray Plant Mooty, the law firm hired by a joint legislative panel to investigate issues surrounding the Aug. 1 collapse.
In its report to a legislative committee last month, the law firm contrasted HNTB’s proposal with one from URS Inc., another national consulting firm that was eventually hired by MnDOT.
“Importantly … the scope of the work under the URS contract did not include the analysis of the gusset plates that had been proposed by HNTB,” Gray Plant Mooty said.
In addition, according to the law firm, HNTB last month confirmed that the company’s cost estimate in its follow-up proposal “includes an item for the analysis of the ‘connections,’” a term that includes the gusset plates, the firm said.
Documents released to the Legislature show that HNTB’s preliminary report sat for more than a year before MnDOT decided to formally award a contract to study the bridge.
When it did so in 2003, MnDOT chose URS, which only a short time before had hired Don Flemming, formerly the longtime state bridge engineer at MnDOT.
Flemming left MnDOT in December 2000, seven months after HNTB made its initial proposal. He told the law firm that he “wanted to retire at the top of my game.” A month later Flemming was hired by URS.
Flemming said that before MnDOT issued a request for proposals that led to URS’ hiring, he made calls to MnDOT officials and talked with them about the services that he and URS could provide.
A URS spokesman last week said the company would not comment on the HNTB study, Flemming or the company’s own study of the bridge.
MnDOT spokeswoman Lucy Kender likewise declined to comment on the matter, including what role, if any, Flemming’s hiring by URS played in that company being hired.
She said MnDOT was preparing a detailed response to the Gray Plant Mooty findings, which she said would be released soon.
Hard to gauge ‘level of concern’
Bruce Mooty, a lead attorney in the law firm’s investigation, said it is difficult to speculate whether state officials missed an opportunity by not hiring HNTB. He said he could not gauge HNTB’s “level of concern” regarding the gusset plates.
As it studied the bridge over four years, URS settled on a complicated steel replating plan for the bridge’s main members that was ultimately set aside by MnDOT. How much the company focused on gusset plates is unclear, and URS officials have generally declined comment since the collapse.
One URS memo, written in 2005, said simply: “Gusset plate buckling — if this occurs, it is not catastrophic.”
Ed Zhou, a URS official, told Gray Plant Mooty investigators that the statement was hypothetical and related to the company’s study of a similar bridge in Cleveland.
Zhou told the law firm that URS did discuss how to evaluate the strength of the connections on the 35W bridge, but added that “we determined that it’s not necessary for us to get into the level of details of reexamining the gusset plate if they were designed properly.”
Although the official investigation of the bridge collapse by the National Transportation Safety Board isn’t expected to be completed until later this year, the NTSB has tentatively concluded that undersized gusset plates ordered in the original design of the bridge likely played a role.
Gray Plant Mooty records show that some MnDOT officials wanted to go ahead with hiring HNTB in late 2001. Notes from a December 2001 meeting at MnDOT, for example, show state bridge officials concluded that since replacing the bridge would not occur until at least 2016 “[we] decided to proceed with study HNTB/Dexter proposed.”
MnDOT officials told the law firm that the delay between HNTB’s late 2001 report and the decision to formally hire a consultant in early 2003 came because the agency could not hire the company without seeking competitive bids and had lingering questions about whether HNTB’s plan would fix the bridge’s weaknesses.
Dan Dorgan, who succeeded Flemming as state bridge engineer, acknowledged that “it appears that we made a choice not to push it that quickly.” He said that MnDOT had competing priorities at the time, including building Minnesota’s first light-rail line.
“They were very busy years for us,” said Dorgan. “It was one of those things we intended to do, but it wasn’t in our list of things.”
Mike Kaszuba • 612-673-4388
© 2008 Star Tribune. All rights reserved.
I-35W Bridge over the MississippiJune 9, 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.Crews to Erect Four Segments a Day for Bridge’s Main Span 
With 20 segments in place and 100 left to go, the main span of the I-35W Bridge is now one-sixth done. Crews will place up to four segments a day from now until the main span is complete in July. Initially, they have been focusing on the south side of the river in an effort to clear the river channel as soon as possible so that construction will not interfere with boat traffic. They did, however, place the first two segments at Pier 3 on the north side of the river on Thursday, June 5.River Channel Closed to Daily Vessel Passage until June 13The Lower St. Anthony Falls Lock and Dam (pictured above), just upriver of the I-35W Bridge construction site, will be closed to boat traffic from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily through June 12 to meet safety needs while the barge crane erects the first several concrete segments for the main span in that area. The navigation channel will reopen to daytime boat traffic on June 13.
Construction Update
Work completed the week of June 2 included:- Completing the last of the 120 pre-cast concrete segments needed for the main span (the final segment was cast on Friday, June 6).
- Pouring the deck for Span 3 on the north side of the project.
- Erecting the falsework for Span 4, which will link Span 3 with the north abutment.
Construction activities scheduled for the week of June 9 include:
- Adding 28 additional segments (four a day) on the south side of the river (erection will continue on the north side on June 12).
- Pouring the deck for the Second Street Bridge on the north side of the project (pictured below).
- Building the second of two cast-in-place retaining walls for the University Avenue on and off ramps.
Potential Noise and Light Impacts
- Crews continue the demolition of the old road bed on I-35W on the south side of the river. This work involves the use of equipment to break up the old roadway so it can be rebuilt. As a result, significant thumping noise may occur between 7 a.m. and 9 p.m. until about June 23.
- Starting this week, crews will remove the sheet pile around the storm sewer grit chamber on northbound I-35W, just north of University. The pile removal will be done with a vibrating hammer, which will generate additional noise in the area.
- As grading and other “dirt work” activities increase on the south side of the project, backup alarms may be more noticeable in that area.
- Crews are working night shifts seven days a week on both sides of the river as well as in the casting yard. Lights and construction traffic may be noticeable between 5:30 p.m. and 4 a.m.
Potential Traffic Impacts
As the project progresses, residents and commuters may encounter activities that will affect traffic in the area, including:- Installing new fencing along the East and West Frontage Roads from University Avenue to 4th Avenue SE. The left lane will be closed intermittently on weekends and nights on the east and west frontage roads during this process, which is scheduled to be complete by June 14.
- Hauling the pre-cast segments from the casting yard to Bohemian Flats. Crews will periodically close 13th Avenue South from the casting yard entrance to West River Parkway as they transport pre-cast segments to the river. Hauling operations will take place between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. intermittently until the end of June. The road will close for up to 10 minutes each time a segment is moved.
- There will be increased construction traffic in the vicinity of the site. Some of the streets affected include Second Street Southeast east to 11th Avenue Southeast; Second Street Southeast to Sixth Avenue Southeast, First Street South and 19th Avenue South, Bluff Street south to 13th Avenue South, Second Street South west to 11th Avenue South.
Other ImpactsOdors may be noticeable near Bluff Street, where crews are drilling shafts for a sanitary sewer. Air quality will be monitored throughout the drilling operation, which will continue through the end of the week.Planning Your Route to Downtown Minneapolis
If you are planning to drive to downtown Minneapolis, you can use the links below to plan your route:
City of Minneapolis Route Planner http://www.ci.minneapolis.mn.us/traffic/routeplannerintro.aspMinnesota Department of TransportationGetting a Closer Look
Get up-to-the minute updates about progrss on the bridge – Jon Chiglo, Mn/DOT Project Manager, will describe what you can expect as the project continues. He’ll appear live at 8:00 a.m. Saturday, June 14 on KARE-TV, as well as Monday, June 16 at 6:10 a.m. on KSTP-TV.Visit the website - The website offers up-to-date information, presentations, graphics, photos and animations, as well as interesting features on workers on the project. You can access the website at www.mndot.gov.Access the webcams - One provides a panoramic view of the entire construction 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 of 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 morning of the next business day.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.River high by the fourth of July?
A river span by July 4? I-35W team sets goal
After milestone, work will remain before drivers returnArticle Last Updated: 06/09/2008 11:08:54 PM CDTvar requestedWidth = 0;if(requestedWidth > 0){ document.getElementById(‘articleViewerGroup’).style.width = requestedWidth + “px”; document.getElementById(‘articleViewerGroup’).style.margin = “0px 0px 10px 10px”; }if(requestedWidth < 400){ requestedWidth = 400; }
The gap between the two sides of the Mississippi River where the I-35W bridge is being constructed. (Pioneer Press: Richard Marshall)On the 338th day, will the breach finally be closed?
Builders of the new Interstate 35W bridge have circled Independence Day on their calendars for an important milestone in the $234 million project — completion of the main span over the Mississippi River, and the first day the bridge will cross the river since Aug. 1.
“That is what we’re shooting for,” said Amy Barrett, a spokeswoman for Flatiron-Manson, the joint venture building the bridge.
While Barrett and the Minnesota Department of Transportation caution that much would need to go right to hit that target date, Project Manager Peter Sanderson told a group of spectators over the weekend that he hoped to lower the last of 120 concrete bridge segments into place July 4.
If so, Interstate 35W would cross the river barely 11 months after it collapsed during rush hour, killing 13 and injuring 145. The National Transportation Safety Board continues to investigate the cause.
MnDOT spokesman Kevin Gutknecht said no special ceremony is planned to mark the occasion.
“At this point, no,” Gutknecht said. “Our focus is on building this thing well and building it safely.”
Barrett also said there is no significance to the July 4 date. It’s merely a coincidence the span would be completed on Independence Day.
Workers are in the process of lifting 120 U-shaped, 200-ton concrete segments into place. The segments will form the main span over the river and must be handled with care, meaning workers
can place only four a day.AdvertisementGetAd(’tile’,'box’,'/home_article’,”,’www.twincities.com’,”,’null’,'null’); on error resume next ShockMode = (Isobject(Createobject(“ShockwaveFlash.ShockwaveFlash.7″)))Barrett and Gutknecht said weather and other factors could affect the completion date, cautioning that mid-July is a safer bet. Over the weekend, for example, high winds delayed the placement of two segments.
Completion of the main span does not mean the bridge is on the cusp of opening. Much work remains on the approach spans and other areas. Flatiron-Manson’s contract with MnDOT only requires the bridge be completed by Christmas Eve.
But with round-the-clock crews, the project is far ahead of schedule and within striking distance of a Sept. 15 completion date that would earn Flatiron-Manson a $20 million bonus. The pace even may mean the possibility of completion by the Sept. 1 opening of the Republican National Convention, though no one connected with the project has stated that as a goal.
So far, about 20 of the 120 concrete segments have been placed. Each was formed on an abandoned stretch of I-35W south of the collapse site and trucked to a riverside park.
There, segments are placed on a barge, floated upriver and carefully lifted into place by a 650-ton-capacity crane. Then, each segment is tied into place using highly tensioned steel. A final 6-foot gap between the bridge’s two sides will be filled with concrete.
Jason Hoppin can be reached at 651-292-1892.
