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35W river bridge progress

By
Real Estate Agent with Keller Williams Classic Realty 20538434
Minnesota Deparment of Transportation - Project Updates
I-35W Bridge over the Mississippi
April 22, 2008
Greetings!  
 
Attention: The weekly update will now be distributed at the beginning of the week instead of end of the week. 
 

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.

Open House at University of Minnesota's Coffman Memorial Union

 
The University of Minnesota Student Chapter of the American Society of Civil Engineers is hosting Mn/DOT and the Flatiron-Manson Joint Venture for an Open House this Thursday, April 24 at Coffman Memorial Union on the University of Minnesota campus. This is an opportunity for those who are interested in the project to receive updates on the bridge's progress.
 

Thursday, April 24
11 a.m.-1 p.m.

Coffman Memorial Union on the University of Minnesota Campus

Table on the Ground Floor, Outside of the Cafeteria and Great Hall
300 Washington Avenue SE
Minneapolis, MN 55455

(across Washington Avenue SE from Northrop Mall)
For a map of the location go to:
http://www1.umn.edu/twincities/maps/CMU/CMU-map.html
 

Barges Arrive and Pre-Cast Segments More than Half Complete

 

The two barges that will support the ringer crane used to place main span segments arrived at Bohemian Flats on Saturday, April 12. The barges have been moved up river and are now anchored near Pier 3 in preparation for the main span assembly.  

 
As of last week, crews had poured 61 of the 120 segments needed for the main span and expect to pour another 12 segments this week. Later this week, workers will begin hauling the pre-cast segments from the casting yard to Bohemian Flats. From that location, they will be loaded onto the barges by Bohemian Blue (the blue crane pictured below) to be transported up river to the bridge site and lifted into place by Big Ben (the red crane). This work will begin the first week in May.

Bohemian Blue

 

Construction Update

 

Work scheduled for the week includes:

  • Continuing to work on the pre-cast segments that will eventually span the river.
  • Assembling the barge mounted ringer crane that will install segments.
  • Pouring concrete for the approach spans on the south side of the river.
  • Constructing the abutment for the Second Street bridges on the north side of the project.

Area residents and motorists will experience traffic issues as well as some noise and light disruptions in the coming weeks.

 
Placing Rebar
 
Work continues on the south approach span of the new bridge (above). Workers are placing rebar and preparing the forms so they can continue pouring concrete during the coming weeks.
 
Potential Noise Impacts
 
Crews will work several nights each week at the Minneapolis Cemstone concrete plant. Neighborhood residents may hear back-up alarms and other noise related to trucks loading and unloading. Cemstone officials have said they will attempt to minimize the noise.
 
As crews begin to relocate utilities and widen the highway on the south side of the construction site, there will be noticeable hammering as they remove the old asphalt, curbs and gutters. Back-up alarms will also be noticeable as trucks are loaded in that area.
 
Hammering noise will accompany falsework construction on the north side of the river.
 
Potential Light Impacts
 
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
 
13th Avenue South to be Closed During Hauling Operations - Also starting this week, crews will close 13th Avenue South for up to 10 minutes at a time, several times a day, to haul pre-cast concrete segments from the casting yard exit (at 13th Avenue South and South Second Street) to the river's edge on the south side of the construction site (using the entrance at 13th Avenue South and West River Parkway). Crews plan to transport up to six segments a day, at a rate of approximately one segment every two hours. Hauling will take place between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. seven days a week until about June 1. Flaggers will be present while hauling is in progress, and traffic attendants will be posted at all driveways along the haul route.
 
Sidewalk/lane closures at Washington and University - Starting this week, the sidewalk on the north side of Washington Avenue may be closed between Seven Corners and 12th Avenue South while crews redo the curb cuts at the corners. Occasional lane closures may also be necessary during this phase of construction. Similar work will take place on University Avenue between Eighth and 10th avenues SE starting in mid-May.
 
Street Closures Needed at 14th Avenue South and First Street South - To allow utility relocation and widening of I-35W northbound, 14th Avenue South and First Street South (near the Seven Corners Apartments) are temporarily closed. Street parking on Second Street South and 14th Avenue is restricted to allow two-way traffic along Second Street South from 19th Avenue to the closure.
 
10th Avenue Bike Lane Closed - The bike lane on the west side of the 10th Avenue Bridge will be closed until further notice from 11 a.m. until noon on Saturdays--when the weekly Sidewalk Talks are in progress--to ensure the safety of everyone using the bridge. The City of Minneapolis has posted signs noting the restriction at each end of the bridge. Bikes and pedestrians are urged to use the lane on the east side of the bridge between 11 a.m. and noon.
 
Truck Traffic - Trucks will be departing from the construction site regularly. Truck traffic is likely on the following routes: on Second Street Southeast east to 11th Avenue Southeast; west on Second Street Southeast to Sixth Avenue Southeast, north on Sixth Avenue and then east on University Avenue; on First Street South and 19th Avenue South; from Bluff Street south on 13th Avenue South, west on Second Street South then west on 11th Avenue South.

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:
 

Help Spread the Word

 

Do you know someone who would appreciate the up-to-date news, first-look pictures and detailed information you get each week? Click on the "Forward email" link at the bottom of this message to pass on a copy of this week's update with an invitation to sign up. 

Getting a Closer Look

Get up-to-the minute updates about progress on the bridge - Jon Chiglo, Mn/DOT Project Manager, will describe what you can expect as the project continues. He'll appear live at 6:10 a.m., Monday, April 28 on KSTP-TV, Channel 5.
 
Try the touch-screen kiosks at Mill City Museum and the airport -
Touch-screen kiosks that provide a variety of information about the bridge, including a photo gallery, a timetable and animations showing what the finished bridge will look like from a helicopter, a boat and a car are available in the Mill City Museum lobby and at Concourse C at the Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport.

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.gov
or call the I-35W Bridge Hotline at (612) 236-6901.

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