Nancy Daubenberger, P.E., Division Director, Engineering Services, Minnesota DOT; Bala Sivakumar, P.E., Lead Designer (ABC), HNTB; and Travis Konda, Ph.D., P.E., Construction Engineer, HNTB

Webinar Documents
Minnesota’s Experience with Accelerated Bridge Construction - pdf of presentation
Project Needs, Design and Construction Highlights, and Lessons Learned - pdf of presentation
News - January 19, 2017 - pdf of presentation

Description: Hennepin County’s Franklin Avenue Bridge, a historic five-span concrete open-spandrel arch structure, crosses the Mississippi River in Minneapolis, Minnesota, and serves as a critical link for local businesses and neighboring universities. Opened in 1923, the bridge is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and is recognized as a Minneapolis Landmark. Degradation and changing usage warranted an extensive structural rehabilitation and required closure of the bridge. ABC methods were selected for the deck replacement, reducing the closure time from two years to four months. The contractor replaced the existing deck and cap beams using precast concrete elements, connecting the deck panels with ultra-high performance concrete and sealing the deck surface with a premixed polymer concrete overlay. The bridge was closed to traffic on May 8, 2016, and opened again on September 1, 2016, 116 days after closure. This presentation includes design and construction details as well as lessons learned.

1) Elevation view of Franklin Avenue Bridge

2) Precast cap beam

3) Deck panels and closure joints

4) Completed bridge rehabilitation