Bridge Collapse

Workers Pass Construction Milestone On 35W Bridge

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) ― It's no holiday weekend for workers on the Interstate 35W bridge. They're continuing to work around the clock to get construction done ahead of schedule.

Saturday, they reached another milestone by placing the last segments of the northbound span over the river. Hundreds of spectators came out to watch and learn more about the massive construction project.

"It's a really proud day for us today, because that gap is almost closed. We're gonna put the last two segments in place," said tour guide Amy Barrett with Flatiron-Mason Companies.

It's a day hundreds of people wanted to see for themselves. Instead of being on the lake this July 4th weekend, a crowd turned out to tour the bridge construction. The Demerath family is visiting from Massachusetts. Their daughter was at work in a nearby office when the bridge collapsed.

"We're fascinated by this and it's interesting to come and watch it and to see how beautifully designed it is and how quickly it's going up," said Demerath, who hadn't seen the bridge since shortly after the collapse last year.

The fast-tracked construction is on target to be done early.

"Working round the clock, all year long. Working right through the holidays," said Barrett.

The last segments needed to connect the northbound side were placed Saturday afternoon. Once the supports under the bridge are removed, the remaining seven foot gap will be filled with concrete. The whole process has kept some visitors coming back again and again.

"I'm just still impressed, "said Tom Segar, a retired engineer who's taken a half dozen tours.

"Everybody's learning. I think Minnesotans are proud of what we're getting here. It's just too bad that it had to start with a tragedy last August first. That was a terrible day," added Segar.

The inquisitive crowd felt excited to see a new beginning emerging.

"It looks like it's going to be very strong and it's going to be very attractive. Hopefully, they say a hundred years, I hope it lasts a hundred years," said Jan Segar of Bloomington.

The old bridge was steel, but the new one is a concrete segmental bridge; a completely different design that is supposed to last over a century.

Saturday, they put the last middle segments on the northbound side. Next week they'll finish the southbound.

The bridge will look done, but there are a lot of time consuming finishing touches to complete. Things like installing railings and lighting, and grinding down the concrete segments to create the driving surface.

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