New I-35E bridge slides into place tonight

Minnesota is trying a new bridge construction method today on Interstate 35E.

The road is being reconstructed for a MNPass lane and other improvements north of downtown St. Paul. That includes rebuilding a number of bridges, including the Larpenteur Avenue bridge over the interstate. The span was demolished in May.

Crews have built a 3.5 million pound replacement just a few feet away, and will be pushing it into place tonight.

"The crews will be using hydraulic jacks to slide the new bridge into the support systems," said state bridge engineer Nancy Daubenberger. "To mitigate risk to the traveling public, we're going to be closing down I-35E since this is our first time trying this technology."

The Larpenteur Avenue plan is a variation on the one that MnDOT used for replacing the nearby Maryland Avenue bridge over 35E. In that case, "the bridge was built off the side of 35E so it needed to be lifted up onto trailers, travel down the interstate and then lifted up into place," Daubenberger said.

The freeway will close at 9 p.m. in both directions between Interstate 94 and Highway 36. The stretch of 35E is expected to reopen tomorrow morning by 5 a.m.

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