Minneapolis I-35W bridge spans Mississippi River
Monday, July 7, 2008
The United States bridge that collapsed almost a year ago, spanning the Mississippi River in Minneapolis, Minnesota, is close to being reconstructed. The final sections of the northbound lanes of the new Interstate 35W St. Anthony Falls Bridge in Minneapolis, Minnesota were put in place on July 5. The final segment was raised with a barge-mounted crane from the Mississippi River below. A temporary bridge now connects the two segments.
The remaining seven-foot gap will be closed in several days with concrete which is poured in place. The segments for the southbound lanes will now be raised and connected. The segments were cast in a work area which was on the 35W roadbed and were then moved to Bohemian Flats, near the University of Minnesota West Bank campus. A crane places each segment on a barge for delivery upstream to the bridge site.
The bridge may be completed as early as September, well ahead of the scheduled opening date of December 24th.
Related news
edit- "Highway bridge in Minneapolis, Minnesota, collapses" — Wikinews, August 2, 2007
Sources
edit- "Final segments placed for first bridge over river on I-35W Bridge project" — Minnesota Department of Transportation, July 7, 2008
- Associated Press. "Half of rebuilt bridge spans river again" — Pioneer Press, July 5, 2008
- Associated Press. "Final pieces of 35W Bridge come together" — KAAL, July 5, 2008
- Jerry Holt. "I-35W bridge: Closing the gap" — Star Tribune, July 2, 2008