
Major restoration of this historic five-span arch bridge over the Mississippi River would normally require a two-year closure, yet the span was reopened to traffic after just 116 days. With the renowned 1923-era Minneapolis landmark needing extensive structural rehabilitation, the project team designed and fabricated numerous bridge elements and systems, including deck panels, rail panels, cap beams, and ornamental railing panels, prior to closing the bridge to traffic. The design also included polished stainless steel plates embedded in the underside of the precast deck panels to reduce the number of needed expansion joints. The project is a model for reconstructing a bridge within a short time frame.
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