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I-35W bridge replacement wins America's Transportation Awards' Grand Prize (Oct. 30, 2009)

I-35W bridge replacement named one of America’s 10 best transportation projects (Sept. 11, 2009)

The new I-35W Bridge opened to traffic at 5 a.m. on Thursday, September 18, 2008, more than three months early. Call Mn/DOT at 651-296-3000 with any questions about this project.

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 339 days.
• Designed to be aesthetically pleasing and fit in with its environment
• Mn/DOT and its partners met and exceeded DBE minority participation goals

Why we built this bridge so fast
The new I-35W bridge replaces the bridge that collapsed on Aug.1 2007. This bridge carried more than 140,000 vehicles a day and the loss of the bridge is costing $400,000 per day in lost revenue, increased commuter expenses and burden on surrounding roads.

• Economic Impacts of the I-35W Bridge Collapse
• Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

"Fun Facts" Archive

"Faces of the Project" archive

Virtual sidewalk tour

The project no longer conducts the Sidewalk Superintendent Talk tours on the 10th Avenue Bridge. The last event took place Sept. 6. The Sidewalk Talks have provided bridge tours to nearly 5,000 people since November 2007.