August 11, 2008
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I-35W Bridge over the MississippiAugust 11, 2008
Greetings! 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 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
Crews have stockpiled approximately 250 tons of gravel on the south end of Span 1 to act as a counterweight. The counterweight is part of a construction sequence necessary to insure a highly durable bridge deck and is less than a fourth of what the the span is designed to carry after it is opened to traffic. The gravel will be in place for the rest of this week.Construction Update
Other construction activities scheduled for the week of Aug. 11 include:- 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
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
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.For more information about the project: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 the former 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.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.