In 2016, the Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT) began an extensive bridge reconstruction project with the goal of replacing 12 old and aging bridges in the state of Minnesota. Such a complex project required an organized, detail-oriented, and widely skilled partner. WSB was selected to provide a variety of services on the project with the intent keeping all the individual projects moving safely, on budget and on schedule.
Project details include:
- 12 bridges on I-35 and TH 14 near Owatonna
- Structural design of 12 bridge replacements
- Included six bridges crossing either the Straight River or Turtle Creek
- Four bridges crossing the Union Pacific Railway
- Two overpass bridges
In an unusual turn of events, two of these bridges were added as the result of a change order executed after the original contract was let.
All the bridge designs included complex steel and prestressed beam structures. They required WSB to utilize innovative methods and alternative technical concepts (ATC’s) in order to account for a variety of challenges including quickly tying into existing profiles. Local environmental concerns required us to find solutions while constructing in areas that were home sensitive species like the Wood turtle and Davis’ Sedge wildflower.