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I-35W St. Anthony Falls bridge project expected to be completed
ahead of schedule (June 19, 2008)
Crews will begin painting portions of the Interstate 35W St. Anthony Falls Bridge this week, according to Mn/DOT officials. The color, called “Snowbound White,” will be applied to parts of the approach span on the south side.
Workers sandblasted the surface last week in preparation for the painting. They will apply two coats of plaster, and then a top coat of the white acrylic paint. Eventually, the entire bridge will be painted in the same fashion.
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The color is one of several elements selected by a group of citizens involved in a community meeting called a design charette last fall. In the meeting, facilitated by FIGG Engineering, the group selected a number of design elements for the bridge, including column shape, bridge color, some aspects of the lighting, the bridge railing type and the type of retaining walls.
- Installing pre-cast concrete segments to form the main span of the bridge. Workers have installed 35 of 120 precast segments and should have a total of 38 installed by the end of the day. Workers plan on installing up to four concrete segments a day and will install more if conditions allow. Segment installation should continue through mid-July.
- Demolishing the old road bed on I-35W on the south side of the river. This work involves the use of equipment that breaks up the pavement so it can be hauled away and eventually crushed. As a result, significant thumping noise may occur. This work will take place between 7 a.m. and 9 p.m. and could last as long as two weeks.
- Hauling the pre-cast 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 occur between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. The road will close for up to 10 minutes each time a segment is moved.
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- Continuing the bridge deck concrete pours for the 2nd Street Bridge on the north side of the project.
- Building cast-in-place retaining walls for the University Avenue on- and off-ramps.
- Grading on the north end of I-35W.
As the project progresses, residents and commuters may encounter activities that will affect traffic in the area, including:
- 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.
- 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.
To find out more about the project, the public can attend a Sidewalk Superintendent Talk on Saturdays at 11 a.m. Meet in front of Grandma’s Saloon & Grill at Washington Avenue South and 19th Avenue for a tour that crosses the 10th Avenue Bridge, adjacent to the construction site. There are also signs describing the design-build process mounted to the railing along the 10th Avenue Bridge for self-guided tours.
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.
For safety reasons, Mn/DOT asks the public to not enter the project site. There are many large machines doing a tremendous amount of work. The best, and safest, place to view the project is from the 10th Avenue Bridge. |
