Project updates

July 31, 2009

The Bridge was opened to traffic mid-afternoon on Friday, July 31, 2009, and detour signing was being removed. Work during the week included planing the concrete bridge deck, which improves minor surface irregularities for a better ride, reduces the bounce effect as vehicles transition from the road to the bridge and improves skid resistance. The pavement surfaces were cleaned and the lanes were striped. On Thursday, the City's Consultant and Bloomington Engineering staff performed a final inspection to certify all work was complete, minor touch-up and clean-up was done by Friday. Hearty thank-yous go out to the Contractor, PCi Roads, for the safe and early successful completion of this project, and also to the traveling public for your patience during the bridge closure.

July 24, 2009

This past week the contractor completed sandblasting and the scheduled beam painting. The contractor has tentatively planned on performing deck planing on Monday, July 27 weather dependant. After this operation has been completed the stripers may restore pavement markings. At points during the week PCI will be completing a few outstanding items concerning the bearing assemblies. The bridge work is ahead of schedule and is likely to open to traffic in early August.

July 17, 2009

Bituminous Roadways milled and paved the street at each end of the bridge. PCi Roads has been working on cleaning the staging area. Sandblasting and painting are scheduled for Monday and should be finished by Wednesday, July 20-22. Planing (precision surface grinding) is tentatively scheduled for July 24, and pavement striping will follow.

July 10, 2009

The bearing assemblies were installed this week. Modifications were required as the existing bearings had some unexpected variances. Curb and sidewalk repairs are being completed. Paving, planing and striping are planned for next week. Sandblasting and painting the underside ends of the bridge is planned for the following week. The bridge is expected to be open to traffic several weeks ahead of schedule.

July 2, 2009

The Contractor paved the second half of the concrete overlay on Monday. The rock protection at the pier bearings was completed. The expansion bearing assemblies have been fabricated and inspected. PCi Roads will jack up the bridge, approximately 1/4", at each corner to install the bearings next Tuesday. Extra reinforcing is required at each corner to prevent the steel girder from distorting under the load of the hydraulic jacks. Sandblasting and painting is planned for later next week. Paving, striping and planing are planned for the following week. The planing will ensure a smooth riding surface, minimizing any "bounce" that vehicles would experience at either end of the bridge.

June 25, 2009

Crews constructed one half of the concrete deck overlay on Thursday morning. Activities earlier in the week included preparing the concrete bridge deck for the overlay. In accordance with State specifications, the concrete overlay must be done in cooler temperatures, below 80 degrees Fahrenheit, so the Contractor may need to work outside the regular work hours. PCi Roads was issued a temporary exemption to the Bloomington Noise Code for Wednesday through Friday June (24-26) and again for Monday and Tuesday June (29-30) between the hours of 7:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m. The Contractor may schedule the overlay work at various times during these days, weather dependant. Area residents were notified of the exemption.

The second overlay is preliminarily planned for Monday, June 29. Several days of curing are required between overlays, so there may be some periods of inactivity. Following the concrete deck overlay will be the bearing replacement (including some temporary shoring), steel reinforcement, sandblasting and painting, concrete planing, street paving and minor restoration. PCi Roads is progressing well with the bridge rehabilitation project. It is too early to predict when the project will be complete, but it is anticipated the bridge should open ahead of the scheduled date.

June 19, 2009

Crews removed the delaminated areas of the concrete deck, removed and replaced the expansion joint plating and reconstructed the approach panel cracks.

The Contractor plans to continue concrete work next week, including overlaying the deck.

The bearing assemblies are being fabricated and are anticipated to be installed following some temporary shoring and girder reinforcement.

The Contractor was able to dedicate a large crew to the project this week, as they coordinate their work schedules on both Bloomington's bridge and MnDOT's I-35W UPA project.

June 12, 2009

The bridge was closed early Wednesday, June 10, and traffic was detoured on the original route using Humboldt Avenue South.

The Police are responding to speeding concerns with mobile speed signs and enforcement.

Some drivers have been frustrated with regards to the CenterPointe gas work on West Old Shakopee Road. Hennepin County will be overlaying West Old Shakopee Road later this summer, so the gas company is replacing the gas main prior to the new street surfacing.

While Old Shakopee Road is the signed detour, drivers are encouraged to use West 98th Street, Xerxes Avenue South or other Collector streets to avoid the congested areas.

Engineering will continue to monitor the detour and make adjustments if warranted.

May 1, 2009

The 106th bridge over Nine Mile Creek will undergo maintenance this summer. The project has been awarded and construction is expected to start after Memorial Day.

West 106th Street Bridge closure

Closed June 10 - September 4, 2009

The 106th Street bridge carries an average of 11,000 vehicles per day. Rehabilitation will ensure that the bridge remains a safe crossing over Nine Mile Creek. City and state inspectors recently noted that the bridge has deteriorated since its original construction in 1969. Maintenance includes replacing bearings and expansion joints, repairing concrete deck and approach panels, overlaying concrete and adding steel reinforcement.

The detour route is West Old Shakopee Road, West 100th Street and Humboldt Avenue South. An alternate signed detour route for motorists exiting I-35W northbound at 106th Street uses East Bloomington Freeway, West Old Shakopee Road and Xerxes Avenue. The pedestrian bridge, parking lot and trail below the bridge will only be closed when there are safety concerns.