I-35W River Bridge update

Other construction activities scheduled for the week of June 30 include:

• Grading and other roadwork in preparation for paving the highway from Washington Avenue (the road with cars on it in the photo above) to the abutment wall on the south end of the bridge (to the right of the area shown above). Continuing to paint Span 1 on the north side of the river.
• Continuing to pour the concrete for Span 4, which connects Pier 4 to Abutment 5 on the north side of the river.
• Installing fencing along the highway from University Avenue to Fourth Street Southeast.

Potential Noise Impacts 

• As crews pave the roadway on the north side of the project, backup alarms may be increasingly noticeable in that area, especially at night.
• Following paving, crews will cut expansion joints in the concrete when it is cured. This work involves saws that will create noise intermittently during the day and at night.
• Toward the end of the week, crews will need to remove sheet pile near the new retaining wall along the exit ramp from northbound I-35W to University Avenue. This work will take approximately two days to complete and will require the use of equipment that causes noise and vibrations. Because this work can be loud, it will only be done during the day, between 7 a.m. and 9 p.m.

Potential Traffic Impacts

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

• During roadway paving operations, concrete trucks will travel from the concrete plant on 35W south of Washington Avenue through the project site and up the north bound ramp to Washington Avenue. Trucks will go left on Washington Avenue to 19th Avenue, then across the 10th Avenue bridge to the north side of the project. Most of this activity will take place at night. There will be traffic control at the top of the ramp at Washington Avenue.
• Crews will periodically close 13th Avenue South from the casting yard entrance to West River Parkway as they transport the last of the pre-cast segments to the river. Hauling operations will take place between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. intermittently until the end of the week. The road will close for up to 10 minutes each time a segment is moved. 
• 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 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.

Potential Light Impacts

Crews are working night shifts seven days a week on both sides of the river. Lights and construction traffic may be noticeable between 5:30 p.m. and 4 a.m.

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