I-35W at I-94
Downtown to Crosstown
The Minnesota Department of Transportation retained LHB to complete final design services for proposed Bridge No. 27W05 as part of the greater I-35W at I-94: Downtown to Crosstown Project in downtown Minneapolis. The new bridge conveys I-35W southbound under Trunk Highway 65 and was an integral part of the new I-35W and I-94 interchange. The overall project also included improved access to 31st and Lake Streets, new E-Z Pass express lane options, 19 new or improved bridges, a new Lake Street Transit Station, better noise walls, reduced congestion, and greater bicycle and pedestrian access.
The replacement structure included many design challenges and required coordination between MnDOT and the design team to accommodate adjacent bridges, utilities, and temporary traffic lanes.
The single-span, prestressed concrete beam structure includes two independent bridge decks to carry northbound and southbound Trunk Highway 65 over southbound I-35W. The unique highly skewed substructures include a pile-supported semi-integral abutment one side of the bridge, and a tall parapet abutment design that utilizes spread footings on the other.
Unusual Bridge Deck Geometry
The bridge deck geometry includes numerous grade breaks and transitions, reflecting the complex mainline and ramp profiles.
300-foot-long Abutments Address Extreme Skew
Partly due to the extreme skew, each abutment is over 300 feet long. Construction was done in stages to facilitate through-traffic requirements.
