June 10, 2008
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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.
