| I-35W Bridge over the Mississippi April 28, 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. |
| I-35W Project Observes Workers Memorial Day The I-35W Project Team will cease work for a short period of time at 2 p.m. today in honor of Workers Memorial Day. Flatiron-Manson Joint Venture is joining Mn/DOT, as well as many other businesses and labor organizations, in this commemoration that takes place on April 28 each year to remember workers who have lost their lives while on the job. Safety First Anyone who visits the site will see signs or stickers on hard hats with this, "Safety First" reminder. With seven months of work underway, Flatiron-Manson Joint Venture is proud to report that it has no lost-time injuries and only nine minor reportable incidents in almost 300,000 work hours. Industry average is about nine reportable incidents per 200,000 hours. Hauling Gets Underway This week, crews will begin the anticipated hauling of the pre-cast main span 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., seven days a week for up to five weeks. The road will be closed for up to 10 minutes each time a segment is moved. "Big Ben" (pictured below), the name given to the barge-mounted ringer crane that will install the main span segments has been assembled. Testing and final preparations including dropping the anchor to hold the crane in place are being completed in advance of the main span assembly planned for mid-May.
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Construction Update
Area residents and motorists will experience traffic issues as well as some noise and light disruptions in the coming weeks.
Potential Traffic Impacts
13th Avenue South to be Closed During Hauling Operations - Hauling will run along 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). Flaggers will be present while hauling is in progress, and traffic attendants will be posted at all driveways along the haul route.
Truck Traffic - 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.
Sidewalk/lane closures at Washington and University - 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. Potential Noise and 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 and construction traffic may be noticeable between 5:30 p.m. and 4 a.m.
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. City of Minneapolis Route Planner http://www.ci.minneapolis.mn.us/traffic/routeplannerintro.asp |
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Getting a Closer Look
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.
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