[DMNA] MNDOT Open House on April 24

Tue Apr 22 17:23:45 EDT 2008

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
[http://rs6.net/tn.jsp?e=001l2IJhxdfkbbZtIEqx1TVeSzfzkUZphzHq_K9CMAMX_UYYAby
KeNoCwpizlpyztB5mxrRjiXWGzXZ2Z0M925oWHEuuaSwTwb3DmRWD6GCAs5OKhWVxb-9YQMmMArD
-hYQ1RRA7yRVe0wFKS4tW-dFIB4ruJIp1TQN]

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 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.

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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.

Work continues on the south approach span of the new bridge. 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:

City of Minneapolis Route Planner
http://www.ci.minneapolis.mn.us/traffic/routeplannerintro.asp
 [http://rs6.net/tn.jsp?e=001l2IJhxdfkbZBUmf56wDRyxSyMMAZsBahHDR9nIlLAUs_1mp
lw7rTLLhg_SF18I9y6NbqQ9n8PpcNymzKysrVZfxiHBGGdPie-7UB-jQAhRxs_X7vYHUdiZILXW7
NbesuzkhzON66Wv-VuFFC-FKokucJc_IE6zoy76FmdzBMTY8=]

Minnesota Department of Transportation

http://projects.dot.state.mn.us/35wbridge/traffic.html
[http://rs6.net/tn.jsp?e=001l2IJhxdfkbbg3R7SsTNuxHpFh0f5R1nkp9SeSg04LOKwyOy4
6UCyE5sc0JXwK-eeXma_EpPoMv3ZA6HEP1P5laMe3P08ZPL-TNFADdHM9LAzCw1hIQjRNubRC69T
y-JdF4rV5F86Ytx0ixHDO-i9JUdCFlxW2_Rm]
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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.
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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
[http://rs6.net/tn.jsp?e=001l2IJhxdfkbbIIOwUlNY8emjqIhr4u5tlQjI4NAUSIXKHIGGa
abaLuJzqu2v4ZDrpQarbjJ83h4SO7b7cVV-0RAGS5Aw8pUsuGkcI7o2h9vp3u3QwtemBWA==].

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
[http://rs6.net/tn.jsp?e=001l2IJhxdfkbbIIOwUlNY8emjqIhr4u5tlQjI4NAUSIXKHIGGa
abaLuJzqu2v4ZDrpQarbjJ83h4SO7b7cVV-0RAGS5Aw8pUsuGkcI7o2h9vp3u3QwtemBWA==].

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 visitwww.mndot.gov
[http://rs6.net/tn.jsp?e=001l2IJhxdfkbbibsXWDlB1VnDWHkG9NdB45U65iS4KcdLS7qoV
ngxEN45VINiOFhZ7iqYRo9Bs55UGB0jA245_A4CrSOXNqlw-3FBLXLhiPDM=]
or call the I-35W Bridge Hotline at (612) 236-6901. 

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