I-35W Minnesota River Bridge

Ames Construction replaced the aging Minnesota River Bridge on Interstate 35W with two new bridges. Finishing 9 months ahead of schedule and under budget, the project expanded motor vehicle capacity and added a trail for pedestrian and bike traffic.

One of the goals was to raise the interstate’s profile south of the Minnesota River to mitigate flood issues. During construction, nearly half of the project was subject to frequent disruptions due to high water.

The Ames team replaced the approach roads and pavement and widened nearly one mile of the interstate between the Twin Cities suburbs of Burnsville and Bloomington. Additional scope included a northbound auxiliary truck climbing lane for increased safety and improved signage, lighting, and drainage. A bridge spanning 106th Street in Bloomington was also reconstructed.

Construction was performed in three stages to maintain three lanes of traffic in each direction. Crews built the northbound structure first. When the northbound structure was complete, traffic was moved onto the new structure while crews built the southbound structure. Through meticulous scheduling, the project team ensured that the work was above flood levels prior to each spring. Ames crews worked double shifts and weekends through tough winters in anticipation of spring flooding, which occurred twice in the spring of 2019.