I-35W Bridge Reopens

[HARTride 2012]

New Minneapolis bridge opens, 13 months after collapse


iReporter Robert Stewart shot the traffic starting to flow across the I-35W bridge early Thursday.

MINNEAPOLIS, Minnesota (AP) -- A steady stream of motorists crossed the new Interstate 35W "smart bridge" as it opened early Thursday, a little more than a year after the old one collapsed into the Mississippi River and killed 13 people.

A vanguard of squad cars, fire trucks, ambulances and maintenance trucks slowly led a parade of cars, motorcycles, trucks and buses across the new bridge in downtown Minneapolis just after 5 a.m., reopening one of the busiest arteries in the Twin Cities.

Many drivers honked and a few waved American flags to inaugurate the span.

"It was wonderful. What a beautiful bridge. It's terrific," said Donald Brown, of Golden Valley, one of the first to make the crossing.

Watch traffic begin to flow across new bridge »

Brown, a retired truck driver, said he was the first motorist waiting on the ramp onto northbound I-35W to try the new bridge. He said he used to drive the old bridge 12 times a week and he was glad to have the crossing back.

The old bridge fell August 1, 2007, killing more than a dozen people and injuring 145 others. The state put the replacement on the fast track, and contractors had it ready for traffic in just 11 months.

"Remarkable," Brown said. "That they did it as fast as they did is unbelievable."


The new Interstate 35W bridge, featuring "smart bridge" technology, was completed months ahead of schedule.

The new $234 million bridge contains hundreds of sensors that will collect data. The purpose of the "smart bridge" technology isn't to warn of another impending disaster; it's to detect small problems before they become big ones, said Alan Phipps, design manager for the project with Figg Engineering Group Inc. of Tallahassee, Florida.

"What these sensors are for, it's like going to your doctor for your health checkup," Phipps said. "It's to ensure you're maintained in top shape so you never get close to having a serious problem."

The bridge was completed on budget and more than three months ahead of the December 24 deadline. That means the contractors should get a bonus close to the contract maximum of $27 million, though the actual amount hasn't been determined.

There are also more visible differences between the new bridge and old. The new bridge is concrete instead of steel and is built with redundant systems so that if one part fails it won't collapse.

The old bridge, finished in 1967, was called "fracture critical," which meant that a failure of any number of structural elements would bring down the entire bridge. See iReporter's photos of the bridge's debut

Within the concrete of the new bridge are embedded 323 sensors that will generate a record of how it handles the stresses and strains of traffic and Minnesota's harsh climate. The data will help engineers maintain the bridge and advance the art of bridge design, Phipps said.

The sensors will measure how the bridge handles loads and vibrations and how it expands and contracts as Minnesota alternates between frigid winters and steamy summers. It will also watch for corrosion from road salt.

A system of sensors and cameras will feed data on traffic flow -- including speeds, accidents, stalls and other disruptions -- to a management center. Other sensors will activate an anti-icing system when necessary, and security sensors are meant to detect intruders into unauthorized areas, such as the hollow concrete box girders.

The data will feed into computers in a control room near the bridge, Phipps said. From there, engineers at the Minnesota Department of Transportation and researchers at the University of Minnesota can download it for analysis.

Catherine French, a civil engineering professor at the University of Minnesota, has worked with the developers of the system and will be among the researchers analyzing the data. The number of sensors on the bridge, and the fact that they were installed from the start, make this project stand out, she said.

"It is kind of on the cutting edge," she said.

The main value will be the insight the system provides for building future bridges. Engineers will be able to compare the bridge's behavior to models they've developed, she said.

The National Transportation Safety Board has scheduled a hearing in November to discuss its investigation into what caused the old bridge to collapse.

In January, NTSB Chairman Mark Rosenker pointed to a design error in the plates that helped connect the bridge's steel beams as a "critical factor." The NTSB has also focused on the weight of construction materials that were on the bridge for a resurfacing project.

Copyright 2008 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

http://www.cnn.com/2008/US/09/18/min....ap/index.html

[HARTride 2012]

This is wonderful to see the new bridge finally open. I was so saddened when the old one collapsed like it did. I hope this bridge will prosper into the next generation.


I also heard that the bridge is light rail ready too, so if the city wants to put in light rail along the I-35W corridor, they can link the lines across the bridge too.

Live Video: Currently streaming video of 35W bridge (from MyFox Twin Cities - http://www.myfoxtwincities.com/myfox...Y&pageId=1.1.1)

[He Named Thor]

Yay! I'm sure there were many in the twin cities waiting for the bridge to open. Looks decent too, though not great. Now, let's start replacing the other hundreds of old bridges before they start collapsing too.

[Rectification]

Replace bridges in Indiana?!?

Though I would definitely love to see that happen, there are entire counties that would be glad to be just plain broke.

One county even is paying it's sheriff the minimum federal wage.

Another county has times when there are no deputies on duty.

[Mplsuptown]

Originally Posted by He Named Thor

Yay! I'm sure there were many in the twin cities waiting for the bridge to open. Looks decent too, though not great. Now, let's start replacing the other hundreds of old bridges before they start collapsing too.

Hate to bring politics into this but if you want that done - as we all should - guess you know who to vote for.

[He Named Thor]

Originally Posted by Mplsuptown

Hate to bring politics into this but if you want that done - as we all should - guess you know who to vote for.

Ralph Nader?

[HARTride 2012]

Or...I can summon JMan to close this thread. Let's stay away from politics on this thread. BTW: Remember that this is the United States Urban Issues Forum!

[Avian001]

Photos of the new bridge from tonight, November 13, 2008.

The 1,900' bridge is lit by blue LED's:





The base of the piers have viewing platforms of the river:

[Minneapolitan]

I saw this driving down University the other night. Lookin' GREAT!

[HARTride 2012]

Beautiful pics.

Beautiful bridge.

[Green Bay Sponge]

Nice futuristic bridge design. The design reminds me of the 2015 Texaco gas station from the 1989 movie, "Back to the Future Part II." Sleek columns and bright lights. I wish we had a bridge like this in Green Bay. I especially like the cool blue track lighting, as well as the observation deck at the foot of the columns.

[bnk]

Say not thanks to

Ayn Rand for this rebuild.

If all of the neocons had their own way MN would have had to bail themselves out by their own asses and not depend upon federal monies.

Tell this to all of the Bachman religious freekoids that want to crush the government.

Ayn is dead, and you sucked from the federal teat for shut your mouth now you mouth breathers,
for this generous rebuild.


.

[He Named Thor]

Originally Posted by bnk

Say not thanks to

Ayn Rand for this rebuild.

If all of the neocons had their own way MN would have had to bail themselves out by their own asses and not depend upon federal monies.

Tell this to all of the Bachman religious freekoids that want to crush the government.

Ayn is dead, and you sucked from the federal teat for shut your mouth now you mouth breathers,
for this generous rebuild.


.

I have no idea what you just said, but I like the bridge too. It does look really nice, if a bit on the plain side. The lighting helps. I need to get up there again, it's been forever since I've been to the twin cities.

[Jennifat]

Here’s a faraway shot, courtesy Johnnepin at the
Minnescraper Forum.

[sicarim]

I'd seen the new bridge a number of times at day but saw it for the first time at night a few weeks back, was stunned! it is quite beautiful.

[araman0]

The lighting is absolutely beautiful.

Was there space reserved on this bridge for future light rail?

[DanielFigFoz]

Congrats Minneapolis!

[Jennifat]

Originally Posted by araman0

The lighting is absolutely beautiful.

Was there space reserved on this bridge for future light rail?

Yes, the new bridge is two lanes wider than the old bridge (10 lanes) with additional space for light rail.

[unusualfire]

Originally Posted by DanielFigFoz

Congrats Minneapolis!

What do you mean congrats? People died at this site.

[ETC-1]

i assume the congrats minneapolis is in light of finishing the bridge and the design and lighting being first class.....i don't see anything that is disrespecting those that lost their life....

What a great addition to the city, as a way to honor those that lost their life on that day.......