Bridge foundations and support structures complete
The West Broadway Avenue Bridges (County Road 81) reconstruction project in Minneapolis and Robbinsdale is progressing steadily.
Construction began in April. The bridge foundation work on both bridges are complete. Late this summer, crews completed constructing the supporting structures, or substructures, including piers and abutments. These elements will carry the spans of the new southbound and northbound bridges. See photos below.
View of one of the southbound bridge abutments now complete. The abutments support the ends of the bridge and transfer the loads from the bridge deck into the ground.
View of the completed northbound bridge pier. The piers, located between abutments, help support the loads from the bridge deck into the ground.
Next phase in bridge construction underway
In late August, crews began the next steps of construction on that bridge and connecting roadway. Construction activities over the next few months will include:
- installing new bridge beams that will support the new deck
- forming and pouring the new bridge deck and approaches
- grading and paving the new roadway and off-ramp connection
Because both southbound and northbound bridges are being realigned, crews have enough space to proactively build some of the new northbound bridge, too, while maintaining vehicle access on the existing bridge.
This will help crews construct the northbound bridge faster once the southbound bridge opens to traffic in the fall.
Traveling through the area
People driving on West Broadway Avenue will continue to have access to and from the area.
We will also continue to maintain access for people driving and using the trails through the intersection below for most of this construction stage.
You can anticipate short-term, full intersection closures when crews need to install bridge pieces that need to be carried over the intersection. We will send e-mail notifications prior to those closures.