Construction of observation plazas begins this week

Crews working on the new Interstate 35W St. Anthony Falls Bridge will begin building the riverside observation plazas this week. The plazas (see rendering above) will surround Piers 2 and 3 on both sides of the Mississippi, providing an excellent close-up view of the river and the 70-foot piers supporting the bridge. Walking paths will provide access to these areas when the bridge opens.

Other construction activities scheduled for the week of Aug. 25 include:

• Continuing to build the median barriers and install fencing along the mainline highway.
• Continuing to pave the “sandbox” area (between the north abutment and Second Street Southeast) on the north side of the river.
• Continuing restoration work on West River Parkway.

Installation and testing of traffic signals, lighting, and the anti-icing system will also continue this week, as will additional sign installation and landscaping.

 

Visit the Mn/DOT booth at the State Fair
Stop by the Mn/DOT booth at the Minnesota State Fair to find out more about the I-35W Bridge and other Mn/DOT projects. The Mn/DOT booth is located in the Education Building, which is on the east side of the Fairgrounds. It is a block north on Cosgrove from the Dan Patch and Snelling Avenue entrance to the Fairgrounds. 

• Crews are working night shifts seven days a week on both sides of the river. Lights, construction traffic and noise may be noticeable around the clock.
• 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, Second Street South (between 13th Avenue South and 11th Avenue South), 19th Avenue South and Bluff Street.
• Due to large crowds attending the Sidewalk Superintendent Talks, the bike lane on the west side of the 10th Avenue Bridge will be closed from 11 a.m. until noon on Saturdays until further notice in an effort to ensure the safety of everyone using the bridge. Signs are posted at each end of the bridge noting the restriction. Bikes and pedestrians should use the east side of the bridge between 11 a.m. and noon on Saturdays. 

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.asp 

Minnesota Department of Transportation 
http://projects.dot.state.mn.us/35wbridge/traffic.html

I-35W Bridge crews to paint main span this week

Other construction activities scheduled for the week of Aug. 18 include:

• Installing the decorative tiles made by Minnesota students on the walls supporting the Second Street Bridge
• Slip forming the median barriers and installing fencing along the mainline highway
• Pouring concrete for the “sandbox” area (between the north abutment and Second Street Southeast, in the top right corner of the photo below) on the north side of the river
• Planting trees and installing signs along the Washington Avenue entrance and exit ramps
• Removal of the falsework (temporary supports) under the side spans 
• Completion of the curb and gutter work

Installation and testing of traffic signals, lighting and the anti-icing system will also continue this week, as will additional sign installation and landscaping.
 
The bridge remains on track to open between mid-September and mid-October. An exact date for the grand opening will be announced soon.

Crews complete structural work on main span while “finishing work” continues

Crews on the I-35W St. Anthony Falls Bridge project completed construction of the final section of main span on Saturday, Aug. 9, by pouring the last of the concrete for the southbound bridge decks on Span 4 on the north end of the bridge (see photo below).

 

 

Finishing work such as installing signs (see photo below) will continue until the bridge opens. 

Other examples of finishing work include:

• Painting all bridge surfaces
• Installation and testing of the anti-icing system
• Aesthetic lighting installation and testing
• Highway lighting installation and testing
• Deck grinding, finishing and striping
• Installation of guard rails
• Completion of approaches and freeway on- and off-ramps, including the installation of guard rails, signage and lighting
• Grading, seeding and planting landscaped areas in the corridor
• Installing rip rap along the river shore to prevent corrosion or damage to bridge foundations
• Finishing stone masonry facing on the bridge abutments
• Installation and testing of traffic signals
• Cleaning up the site 

• Painting the main span of the bridge.
• Pouring the last of the concrete for the “sandbox” area (between the north abutment and Second Street Southeast) on the north side of the river.
• Pouring concrete for shoulders, ramps, curbs and gutters along the mainline highway.
• Excavating a holding pond on the south side of the river.
• Installing signs, lighting and anti-icing devices along the highway on both sides of the river.
• Grading West River Parkway in preparation for paving.
• Seeding the area around the newly landscaped holding pond on the north side of the river (see photo below).

 

Potential Noise,Traffic and Light Impacts

As the project progresses, residents and commuters may encounter activities that will affect traffic and may cause noise or light disruptions in the area. In particular:

• Crews will cut the last of the expansion joints in the roadways on the south side of the bridge this week. This work involves the use of saws that will create noise intermittently during the day and at night Monday through Saturday. Some additional saw cutting will be needed on the south end of the bridge in August.
• Crews are working night shifts seven days a week on both sides of the river. Lights and construction traffic may be noticeable around the clock.

Lane closures for the project this week include:

• Through Aug. 15, the left lanes along the west and east frontage roads will be closed while crews install right-of-way fencing between University Avenue and 4th Street. The left lane on the University Avenue Bridge will also be closed when the left lane on the east frontage road is closed. This work will take place between 7 p.m. and 6 a.m. Monday through Friday.
• Beginning Aug. 18, traffic lanes will be closed on University and Washington Avenues between 7 p.m. and 6 a.m. while they add lane stripes and other permanent pavement markings. Only one lane will be closed at a time, per roadway. The lane closures will continue through Aug. 21.

Ongoing traffic impacts:

• 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, Second Street South (between 13th Avenue South and 11th Avenue South),19th Avenue South and Bluff Street.
• Due to large crowds attending the Sidewalk Superintendent Talks, the bike lane on the west side of the 10th Avenue Bridge will be closed from 11 a.m. until noon on Saturdays until further notice in an effort to ensure the safety of everyone using the bridge. Signs are posted at each end of the bridge noting the restriction. Bikes and pedestrians should use the east side of the bridge between 11 a.m. and noon on Saturdays.

Planning Your Route to Downtown Minneapolis

• Installing signal poles and fencing near the northbound ramp at Washington Avenue.
• Excavating a holding pond on the south side of the river.
• Seeding and sodding the holding pond on the north side of the river.
• Installing lighting and anti-icing equipment along the highway on both sides of the river.
• Beginning restoration of West River Parkway.
• Continuing to construct barrier rails and curbs on the sides of the main span bridge (as shown below).

• Once the freeway concrete has set, crews will cut expansion joints in the concrete and sandblast the surface at night, creating intermittent noise.
• 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, Second Street South (between 13th Avenue South and 11th Avenue South), 19th Avenue South and Bluff Street.
• Crews are working night shifts seven days a week on both sides of the river. Lights and construction traffic may be noticeable around the clock.