August 20, 2008
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I 35 bridge update
I-35W Bridge over the MississippiAugust 20, 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 crews to paint main span this week
Having completed work on the “pier ears” (above), an aesthetic feature of the new Interstate 35W St. Anthony Falls Bridge, crews will be able to finish painting the main span (below) 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.Potential Noise, Traffic and Light Impacts- Grinding begins this week - Crews will begin grinding the northbound lanes of the bridge deck to create a smooth driving surface. The grinding will occur around the clock throughout the week. Additional noise may be noticeable in the vicinity of the grinding.
- Lane closures on University and Washington avenues begin
this week - One traffic lane at a time will be closed on University and Washington avenues between 7 p.m. and 6 a.m. while crews add lane stripes and other permanent pavement markings. Only one lane, per roadway, will be closed at a time through approximately Aug. 21.
Ongoing 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.
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.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.