FIGG's New I-35W Bridge Opens Three Months Early
According to a recent AASHTO study, 20 percent of U.S. bridges are now more than 50 years old. The maintenance and repair needs of these aging bridges are a top concern in the bridges industry.
The impact of bridge catastrophes to society is far reaching, as in the case of the I-35 bridge collapse in Minnesota. The collapse of I-35W on August 1, 2007, has directly affected the lives of more than 140,000 motorists, who traveled across it on a daily basis. In addition, the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development estimates that the state economic impact of the loss of this critical transportation route is $400,000 a day, or more than $60 million over the course of the 15 months the bridge is expected to be out of service.
To design and build a new 10-lane I-35W bridge in that timeframe required innovative 3D software to streamline construction and speed assembly. The bridge design also includes a state-of-the-art sensory system that detects bridge structural wear and damage. This technology could help prevent future bridge disasters. In fact, a recent NOVA scienceNOW episode entitled Smart Bridges features the technology. The episode highlights Be Award Nominee FIGG and the I35W bridge project. The new bridge will reflect safety, sustainability, advances in technology, and aesthetics in harmony with the remarkable Mississippi River environment.
FIGG's project team deployed MicroStation to prepare 3D PDFs of reinforcing steel drawings. This technology allowed the team to review 3D reinforcing bars from all angles and code them for easy identification during field replacement. Using the same platform resulted in seamless file sharing across all team members, which made design completion faster and achieved high-quality plan documents. The 3D model acts as a virtual construction assembly that accelerates the actual construction, saving valuable man-hours in the field while building in subfreezing temperatures. With the help of the 3D technology, the new I-35W bridge opened to traffic on Sept. 18, 2008, three months earlier than planned.
Features of the new bridge:
- 100-year life span
- 10 lanes of traffic, five in each direction—two lanes wider than the former bridge
- 189 feet wide—the previous bridge was 113 feet wide
- 13 foot wide right shoulders and 14 foot wide left shoulders, the previous bridge had no shoulders
- Light Rail Transport-ready which may help accommodate future transportation needs
- Design-build project complete in 437 days
- Designed to be aesthetically pleasing and fit in with its environment
In the News
The Bridge to Smart Technology, BusinessWeek
IT Infrastructure Slideshow: How Technology Sped Minnesota Bridge's Rebirth, eWEEK.com
See FIGG's 2008 Be Award entry
2008 Be Awards