HomeMy WebLinkAbout2014 07-10 I-35E to close as Larpenteur bridge slides into place PIONEER PRESS I-35E to close as Larpenteur bridge
slides into place
JUL 1 0 2014
By Sarah Horner
shorner @pioneerpress.com(mailto:shorner @pioneerpress.com?
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POSTED: 07/092014 12:01:00 AM CDT
UPDATED: 07/09/2014 11:12:09 AM CDT
Motorists will encounter lane and ramp closures on both directions of Interstate 35E in St.Paul
and Maplewood overnight tonight as the Larpenteur Avenue bridge deck is slid into place.
Ramps and lanes will begin to close at 7 p.m.Wednesday between Interstate 94 and Minnesota 36,
with both directions of the interstate expected to be completely shut down by 9 p.m.,according to
the Minnesota Department of Transportation.
Motorists will be directed to detours on interstates 694 and 94.
I-35E will reopen by 5 a.m.Thursday.
The project will take place weather permitting.
During the closure,a 3.5 million-pound bridge beams and deck will be slid onto the newly built
supports using hydraulic jacks,according to Bobbi Dahlke,a spokesperson for MnDOT.
The parts were constructed simultaneously on a temporary structure about 4 feet north of the
existing framework.
The method speeds construction and minimizes the impact to motorists,Dahlke said.
The process,known as"slide-in"bridge construction,has never been used in Minnesota and is
expected to take about eight hours.
See a time lapse video of the project at www.mndot.gov/metro/projects/tcestpaul/mnpass.html
(http://www.rnndot.govimetro/projects/fisestpaul/mnpass.html).
Replacing the bridge is part of the I-35E MnPASS Express Lane project,which includes adding a
MnPASS Express Lane between Little Canada Road and Maryland Avenue,improving the
pavement on I-35E and replacing the Arlington Avenue,Wheelock Parkway and Larpenteur
Avenue bridges.
Sarah Horner can be reached at 651-228-5539.Follow her at twitter.com/hornsarah
(http://twitter.com/hornsarah).