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May 28, 2008 11:21 pm US/Central

Reality Check: Speedy Road Construction

Reporting
Pat Kessler
(WCCO) The Minnesota Department of Transportation said the new Interstate 35W bridge construction is not only on track but ahead of schedule. They said they'd complete the new bridge in just 17 months but, so far, it is 100 days ahead of schedule.
"And you believe this will be done early?" asked Pat Kessler.

 "I think It will be done earlier than Dec. 24," said John Chiglio of MnDOT.

 It's TRUE.

 Bridge engineers say the river span could be ready for this autumn before the snow falls. It's because of the growing use around the world of a building practice called "accelerated construction".

 "We're in the middle of a day on a weekday. How many workers are out there?" asked Kessler.

 "On any given day, Monday through Saturday, there's approximately 600 people on the project," said Chiglio.

 IN FACT…

 Those 600 workers are on overlapping 12 hour shifts: 200 workers at night and 400 workers dayside. The speed secret is that they're split up in staging areas around the river. They are designing and building at the same time, making all the bridge parts on site.

 Here's what you NEED TO KNOW.

 The bridge supports, the deck and super structure are built on the old entrance ramp where concrete is poured and cured. Cranes are then ready to lift the pieces in place, and there's no traffic to slow it down.

 "Without the traffic, in this corridor right now we're able to build all four approach spans to the main river span at the same time. And that's really what's allowing us to build it within the schedule that you're seeing," said Chiglio.

 So why can't all projects be done this fast?

 Here's the REALITY.

 It's very hard and very expensive to shut down roads and bridges for a hurry-up construction project. Taxpayers are putting up $234 million for a speedy finish.

 However, the builder gets $200,000 for each day it's done early and that's on top of a $7 million bonus.

 That's Reality Check.

 To check the resources for this Reality Check click on the links below.
Accelerated Construction Technology Transfer
Flatiron-Manson Award For I-35W Bridge

 

(© MMVIII, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)

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