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These workers are working on the northside approach of the new 35W bridge. The green rebar reinforces the concrete. Eventually, cars will be driving over this stretch southbound towards downtown Minneapolis. This location is about one carlength from the beginning of the span over the river.
MPR Photo/Sam Choo
Work on the replacement I-35W bridge in Minneapolis seems to be moving along surprisingly fast.
The southern approach span over the west bank of the Mississippi River is already finished up to the pier.
About 600 workers are working 12-hour shifts, 24 hours a day, seven days a week on both sides of the river to get the bridge rebuilt in the shortest amount of time possible.
This view is from the north side of the span looking south. From here you can see the work completed so far, the 4 box girders which will make up the two 35W bridges (North and South), and the width of the span still to be completed over the Mississippi River. To the left is the Cedar Avenue bridge.
MPR Photo/Sam Choo
Crews are expected to begin attaching portions of the main bridge segments over the river from the south end later this week.
To get a closer look at the bridge segments before they went up, All Things Considered host Tom Crann took a tour of the construction site with Kevin Gutknecht last week.
Gutknecht is the I-35W bridge project information officer with the Minnesota Department of Transportation.
Gallery
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The wooden scaffolding and casting form surround one of the concerete box girders that will make up the two spans of the new 35W bridges. The box girders are 11 feet high at the shortest point -- the center of the bridge span -- to 25 feet at the tallest point, closer to the river banks.)
MPR Photo/Sam Choo
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These workers are working on the northside approach of the new 35W bridge. The green rebar reinforces the concrete. Eventually, cars will be driving over this stretch southbound towards downtown Minneapolis. This location is about one carlength from the beginning of the span over the river.
MPR Photo/Sam Choo
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This view, looking south from the north side, shows the wooden casting bed, and the elaborate network of green rebar which will undergird much of the poured concrete. While this is a concrete bridge, MnDot's Kevin Gutknecht says the bridge structure will have tons of steel.
MPR Photo/Sam Choo
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