Construction News
Lowry/Marshall Street Update:
Road construction activities continue in the Lowry Avenue/Marshall Street intersection.
These activities include pavement rehabilitation and overhead/underground utility
work. This work requires lane restrictions through early June. Additionally, Hennepin
County is working with the City of Minneapolis to limit parking within the work
zone. The traffic signal has been converted to a 4-way stop during the construction
and could result in traffic delays. A new traffic signal system, along with the
rehabilitated intersection, is anticipated to be fully operational by early June.
May 18, 2012
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All 36 stay cables have been installed. Workers have begun to stress the stay cables so that they will support the concrete deck.
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| The Wall B Footing is now complete. Workers are installing the reinforcement bars for the Wall B Stem. |
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Spans 2 through 4, from the railroad tracks out to the Mississippi River, have been poured. Workers have begun stressing the post-tensioning system in the bridge deck.
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April 12, 2012
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The 36 stay cables that connect the steel arches to the bridge deck are being assembled and installed.
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| Each of the stay cables is comprised of 19 steel strands encased in the protective, black coating and surrounded by a white plastic sheathing. |
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On Phase 2, the concrete beams have been placed for Span 1A, the bridge span over the CP Railroad. Each of these beams are 90 feet long and over 58,000 pounds!
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Work has begun on Wall B, the South retaining wall on the western bridge approach.
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Workers have begun forming the bridge deck for Spans 2 through 4 which will extend from the CP Railroad to Pier 4 on the western shore of the Mississippi River.
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February 17, 2012
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The steel arches have been installed!
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The arches are comprised of 22 segments with each of the segments weighing between
70,000 and 130,000 lbs. In the video below, you can see the final “keystone” segment
being placed. This final keystone segment weighs 73,000 lbs, is 40 feet long and
has a cross sectional area of 4 feet by 5 feet.
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January 13, 2012
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The first arch segments have been installed!
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The arches are comprised of 22 segments with each of the segments
weighing between 70,000 and 130,000 lbs. In the photographs below, you
can see that 10 of the arch pieces have been put in place. The
remaining arch segments will be placed over the next month.
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The watermain installation has begun. The watermain will extend from Pier No. 4 on the western
shore to the East Abutment.
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December 2, 2011
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All 18 Transverse Beams are now in place. As you can see from the photo below, the
transverse beams run north and south between the edge girders. The holes you see in the
beams are for the watermain and conduits that will eventually protrude through. Together
with the edge girders, they create the framework for the bridge deck.
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| Reinforcement bars have been installed and concrete has been poured in the walls of
the DC Sand Filter, an underground stormwater treatment structure that will service over
80 acres of the surrounding community. |
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In Phase 2, work continues on the Wall A Stem. Wall A is the north retaining wall on the bridge
approach.
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Work has begun on the Wall B Footing. Wall B is the south retaining wall on the bridge
approach.
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Concrete has been poured for bridge deck superstructure bottom slab and walls surrounding
Pier 2.
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November 8, 2011
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The southern Precast Edge Girder has been lifted into place. The precast edge girders frame
what will eventually be the north and south bridge deck of the new Lowry Avenue Bridge. Each edge
girder is approximately 155 feet long and weighs one million pounds.
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| Reinforcement bars have been installed and concrete has been poured in the bottom slab of the DC
Sand Filter, an underground stormwater treatment structure that will service over 80 acres of the
surrounding community. |
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In Phase 2, work continues on the Wall A Stem. Wall A is the north retaining wall on the bridge
approach.
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Workers are installing falsework and forming the bridge deck in Span 2. This work will support
the bridge construction west towards the railroad tracks.
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Concrete has been poured for bridge deck superstructure bottom slab and walls between Pier 3
and Pier 4.
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October 17, 2011
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The northern Precast Edge Girder has been lifted into place. Great care was taken during lifting
to synchronize either end of the edge girder so that the it would remain level throughout the lifting
process. The precast edge girders frame what will eventually be the north and south bridge deck of the
new Lowry Avenue Bridge. Each edge girder is approximately 155 feet long and weighs one million pounds.
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| Work has begun on the DC Sand Filter, an underground stormwater treatment structure that
will service over 80 acres of the surrounding community. |
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On Phase 2, work in the Lowry Avenue – 2nd Street North Intersection is now complete.
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The Wall A Footing has been poured. Wall A is the north retaining wall on the bridge approach.
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Concrete has been poured for the Pier No. 2 Stem.
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Concrete has been poured for the Span 4 bridge deck superstructure.
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September 21, 2011
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The North Precast Edge Girder has been poured. This structure will span the “gap”
remaining in the middle of the river.
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The temporary parking lot has been removed so that work can begin on the DC Sand Filter,
an underground stormwater treatment structure that will service over 80 acres of the
surrounding community
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| On Phase 2, work has begun in the Lowry Avenue – 2nd Street North Intersection. As shown below,
workers have replaced or repaired the existing utilities. |
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Concrete has been poured for the West Abutment Stem.
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Workers have begun to install reinforcement bars in the Pier No. 2 footing.
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Workers have also started to install reinforcement bars into Span 4, the bridge deck superstructure between Pier No. 3 and Pier No. 4.
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August 31, 2011
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Concrete has been poured for the South Precast Edge Girder, the concrete bridge section
that will fill the “gap” remaining in the middle of the river.
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The Pier No. 5 Upper Arch Legs have been poured. Workers have stripped the forms and are
beginning to stress the steel strands running within the Pier Legs. As you can see in the drawing
below, the steel strands (red) loop inside of the Pier Legs and provide structural strength.
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| In the photo below, workers are feeding the steel strands through pipes that were cast into
the pier leg. |
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On Phase 2, reinforcement bars have been installed and concrete has been poured for the
West Abutment Footing.
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Work continues on the falsework between Pier No. 2 and Pier No. 4. .
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August 12, 2011
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Reinforcement bar installation has begun for the Pier No. 5 upper arch leg. This is an extension
of the pier leg above the concrete bridge deck and will be the connecting structure for the steel arch.
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Forming has begun for the sidewalk overlooks. These structures curve the sidewalks around the pier
legs and allow for unobstructed views of the Mississippi River.
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Forming has begun for the Precast Edge Girder, the concrete bridge section that will fill the
“gap” remaining in the middle of the river.
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Piling installation has begun on the West Abutment of Phase 2.
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Falsework installation continues on Phase 2 which will support the bridge superstructure during construction.
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July 22, 2011
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The Tony Jaros’ River Garden parking lot is now complete. The temporary lot will soon be removed so that
work can begin on the DC Sand Filter, an underground stormwater treatment structure that will service over 80
acres of the surrounding community.
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The walls and bottom slab for the Span 6 superstructure, the main river span, have been poured near Pier No. 5. The six black pipes that you see below are
for the post tensioning tendons that will provide structural support to the Precast Edge Girder during construction.
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Workers have constructed a temporary platform just south of Pier No. 5 that will be used to build the Precast Edge Girder. We will be adding more reinforcement
(i.e. steel bars), forming the shape with plywood and pouring concrete on the platform. The Precast Edge Girder is the concrete bridge section that will fill the
“gap” in the middle of the river. By building the Precast Edge Girder on the platform, the navigation channel remains open to river traffic during construction.
Once complete, the Precast Edge Girder will be carried by barge out into the navigation channel and hoisted into place.
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On Phase 2, concrete has been poured for the stem of Pier No. 1, the pier adjacent to the Canadian Pacific Railroad.
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Concrete has been poured for the Pier No. 3 Stem. The stem has the same arched shape as Pier No. 4.
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June 15, 2011
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Span 6, the main river span, is starting to take shape. As you can see below, the Span 6 construction has begun
reaching towards the middle of the river channel.
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The reinforcement for Span 6 is being installed. In the photo below you can see the plywood blockouts where
the stay cables will connect in the Span 6 Superstructure.
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On Phase 2, installation of the piling for Pier No. 1, the pier adjacent to the Canadian Pacific Railroad, has begun.
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The Pier No. 3 Footing has been formed and concrete has been poured.
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The 24 drilled shafts that form the foundation for Pier No. 2 are being installed. Each shaft is 4 feet wide and over 90 feet deep
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May 27, 2011
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Work has begun on the main river span, Span 6. In the photo below, you can see
Pier No. 5, the western river pier, and the temporary falsework that will
support Span 6 during construction.
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Workers have begun construction on the permanent parking lot for Tony Jaros’
River Garden.
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Removals continue on Phase 2. In the photo below, which looks west from Pier No.
4, you can see the beginnings of the foundation installation for Pier No. 3.
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The majority of the old Lowry Avenue roadway and crib walls have been removed up
to the Canadian Pacific Railroad tracks. The steel beams that spanned the
railroad have been removed.
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Workers have begun installing the piling foundation for Pier No. 3.
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May 4, 2011
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The top slab of the bridge deck superstructure has been poured from the
Pier No. 4 out to the western shore and from the East Abutment out to the
eastern shore.
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Workers have begun stressing the Post Tensioning System in the bridge
deck superstructure on the western shore. The Post Tensioning System
runs throughout the bridge in the walls and top slab of the bridge deck
superstructure. This system will provide internal strength and support
to the completed bridge structure.
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Construction on Phase 2 has begun! Workers have started to remove the
crib walls underneath Lowry Avenue. Removals will be ongoing for the
coming weeks starting from near Pier No. 4 and working westward.
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April 12, 2011
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The Bottom Slab of the bridge deck superstructure has been poured
from the western shore out to Pier No. 5.
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Workers have begun to layout the Post Tensioning System within the
top slab. The Post Tensioning System will provide internal strength
and support to the bridge deck superstructure.
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Workers have begun installing reinforcement bars in the bottom slab of
the bridge deck superstructure from the eastern shore out to Pier No. 6.
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Falsework installation will soon resume between the pier legs that will
support the bridge across the main river channel during construction.
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February 18, 2011
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| The Pier Walls for Pier No. 6 have been poured.
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Work has begun to extend the bridge deck superstructure out to the
pier legs. Falsework installation has resumed with the piling that will
support the bridge deck superstructure between Piers No. 5 and 6.
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January 10, 2011
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The Pier Walls for Pier No. 5 have been poured. Workers have begun
installing rebar for Pier No. 6 Walls.
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The Bottom Slab and Walls have been poured for the east and west
portions of the bridge deck superstructure. Workers will soon begin
installing the reinforcement bars for the Top Slab of the bridge deck
superstructure.
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December 7, 2010
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All four Pier Legs have now been poured. Reinforcing bars are being
installed in the Pier Walls that connect the North and South Pier Legs.
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Work on the bridge deck superstructure will be ongoing throughout the
winter months. Winter presents particular challenges when pouring
concrete. As you can see from the picture below, the forms are heated
over night under plastic sheets to melt the snow and covered after
the pour is complete to protect the concrete while it cures.
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November 9, 2010
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Workers have removed the forms for Pier No. 5 North and South Legs.
Reinforcement installation continues for Pier No. 6 Legs.
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The bottom slabs have been poured for the bridge deck superstructure
that extends from either shore out towards the river piers.
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October 22, 2010 Update
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The North and South Legs of Pier No. 5 have been poured. Workers will
soon begin placing reinforcement for Pier No. 6 Legs.
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Workers are placing reinforcement in the bridge deck superstructure
that connects the western shore to Pier No. 5.
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October 8, 2010 Update
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The South Leg of Pier No. 5 has been poured. Workers are completing the
reinforcing bars installation on North Leg of Pier No. 5.
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The piling installation for the eastern falsework is complete. Workers
are now constructing forms for the girders that will extend the roadway
from the shore out to the river piers.
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September 17, 2010 Update
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Work continues on installing the formwork and reinforcement bars for the
South Leg of Pier No. 5.
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The piling installation for the western falsework is complete. Workers
have begun installation on the steel beams that will support the girders
spanning from Pier No. 4 to Pier No. 5 on the western shore.
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On the east side, workers have begun installing the falsework that will
support the girders from Pier No. 6 to the East Abutment during construction.
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August 25, 2010 Update
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All four of the river pier footings are now complete. Workers have begun
installing the formwork and reinforcement bars for Pier No. 5 Legs.
When the formwork is complete it will shape the pier leg for the concrete pour.
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The bridge head design on the east side retaining walls has been formed
and poured. This architectural feature will mark the eastern boundary of
the Lowry Bridge.
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August 10, 2010 Update
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On Pier No. 6, the eastern river piers, footing construction has begun.
Concrete has been poured for the northern footing and rebar continues
to be installed in the southern footing.
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On the west side of the river, piling continues to be driven for the
falsework.
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On the east side of the river the East Abutment stem is now complete.
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July 23, 2010 Update
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The Pier No. 5 footing is now complete and soon workers will begin
assembling the reinforcement bars that will become the pier stem.
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Pile driving has now resumed for the temporary falsework that will support
the bridge structure prior to arch installation.
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On the east side of the river concrete has been poured for the
East Abutment stem.
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July 2, 2010 Update
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Observers of the site will have noticed a good deal of activity in the past few weeks. On the west side of the river you will see the completed Pier No. 4 stem.
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In Pier No. 5, the western river pier, reinforcement bars are being set in place and soon concrete will be poured for the footing.
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On the east side, pile driving is complete for the East Abutment and Pier No. 6. Neighbors can enjoy a short break in the noise before pile driving resumes for the temporary falsework.
The footing has been poured for the East Abutment and crews have begun placing reinforcement bars for the East Abutment stem.
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June 18, 2010 Update
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Pile installation continues on Pier No. 6 and the east abutment. Workers have begun placing the reinforcement bars into the Pier No. 5 footings.
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On the east bank, patrons of Tony Jaros' River Garden can begin parking in the new lot at the southwest corner of the intersection of Lowry Avenue and Marshall Street.
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May 26, 2010 Update
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Pile installation has begun for Pier No. 6 and the east abutment. This week crews are installing the storm sewers on the east side of Lowry Avenue.
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Below you can see the piling installation for the East Abutment and Pier No. 6 north.
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On Pier No. 5, workers have excavated the interior of the pilings and are now working on placing reinforcing bars inside of pilings and filling them with concrete. Once this work is complete, workers will begin constructing the pier footings.
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Placing of reinforcement bars into Pier No. 5 pilings.
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May 1, 2010 Update
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April 13, 2010 Update
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Excavation of the cofferdams is now complete and pile installation on the river piers has commenced.
The foundation of Pier No. 4, on the west side of the Mississippi river, has been poured and work on the above ground portions will begin shortly.
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Excavation of Super America site (Lowry Avenue/Marshall St)
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Visitors to the Edgewater Park will remember the paving with the names of the Northeast neighborhoods. These stones were recovered from the park and will be reused in the new park design.
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Information about the open house held on Tuesday March 23, 2010 can be found on the
Get Involved
page.
March 15, 2010 Update
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Residents can learn more about the construction details and schedule at an open house scheduled for Tuesday March 23, 2010 at 6:30pm, where residents can talk with Hennepin County and Lunda Construction Inc. staff, The meeting will be held at the Eastside Neighborhood Center. Check the
Get Involved
page for more information on Public Meetings.
Cofferdam structures for both river piers are now installed. The contractor is excavating material within these cofferdams to allow pile installation. Local residents will now hear the “sounds of construction” as the contractor begins to install the river pier foundation piling. Each pile is 32” in diameter and will extend well over 100’ below the river surface. If placed end to end, the piling supporting the river piers will almost total two miles in length!
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Photos of setting the Cofferdam:
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Construction Fencing along the old SuperAmerica site (Lowry Avenue/Marshall St.)
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Work activity on the West shore includes the excavation of the "Pier No. 4" foundational work and installation of 16" diameter piles.
The East shore work includes the demolition of the "SuperAmerica" store at the corner of Marshall Street/Lowry Avenue that is now completed to make way for an underground water treatment structure.
Excavation of material, along the East slope, continues for East Abutment foundation installation.
After extensive input from the community, residents can look forward to a new Lowry Avenue Bridge with:
- A basket-handle steel arch design that spans more than 400 feet across the navigational channel of the Mississippi River.
- Expanded sidewalks with unobstructed views of the Mississippi River.
- A high efficiency LED lighting system for the steel arch that is color adjustable.
- An anti-icing system that senses the conditions for icing and automatically disperses a measured amount of anti-icing material across the surface. This system can also be remotely controlled from the county’s Public Works Facility or even a snowplow.
- A new underground stormwater treatment facility called a DC sand filter that serves more than 80 acres of the surrounding community.