RENOVATION OF THE THIRD AVENUE BRIDGE IN MINNEAPOLIS

The Third Avenue Bridge has the most dramatic setting and sophisticated design of all Minneapolis spans over the Mississippi. Built in 1918 this reinforced concrete structure had deteriorated to the point where it needed major renovation or replacement. Howard, Needles, Tammen, & Bergendoff, Architects, Engineers, and Planners, did a detailed inspection and evaluation of the bridge. They recommended replacement of the entire deck including roadway, barriers, sidewalks, railings, and lights; the spandrel caps and the upper portions of the drel caps and the upper portions of the spandrels; the entire approach spans, including the bents; and even the abutments and wing walls. Special challenges for the designers included estimating quantities and defining how much of the structure was to be replaced, improving sight distances, improving drainage by inducing a slight grade, protecting the top reinforcement, adding a new safety-shaped barrier between the roadway and the walkways, and developing special provisions for the use of shotcrete. In addition, the designers worked to preserve the historic and aesthetic values of the bridge. It became clear that a normal construction pace would not be acceptable. The bridge was too important to the traffic system to be closed any longer than really necessary. An incentive clause was added to the contract. Construction brought additional problems. The condition of the bridge was worse than expected. Decisions about the extent of the repairs had to be made daily. Nevertheless, the project was a success. The Third Avenue Bridge was reopened to traffic almost a year ahead of schedule and has been saved for decades to come.

• Record URL:
  http://onlinepubs.trb.org/Onlinepubs/trr/1984/950/950v1-023.pdf
• Record URL:
  https://scholar.google.com/scholar_lookup?title=RENOVATION+OF+THE+THIRD+AVENUE+BRIDGE+IN+MINNEAPOLIS&author=D.+Miller&author=R.+Beckman&publication_year=1984
• Availability:
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• Supplemental Notes:
  • This paper appeared in Transportation Research Record Number 950, Volume 1, Second Bridge Engineering Conference conducted by the Transportation Research Board and the Federal Highway Administration, September 24-26, 1984. Publication of this paper sponsored by Committee on Construction of Bridges and Structures. Distribution, posting, or copying of this PDF is strictly prohibited without written permission of the Transportation Research Board of the National Academy of Sciences. Unless otherwise indicated, all materials in this PDF are copyrighted by the National Academy of Sciences. Copyright © National Academy of Sciences. All rights reserved
• Authors:
  • Miller, David O
  • Beckman, Richard D
• Conference:
  • Bridge Engineering Conference, 2nd, 1984, Washington, DC, USA
• Publication Date: 1984

Media Info

• Media Type: Print
• Features: Figures; Photos;
• Pagination: pp 150-156
• Monograph Title: Second bridge engineering conference. volumes 1 and 2
• Serial:
  • Transportation Research Record
  • Issue Number: 950
  • Publisher: Transportation Research Board
  • ISSN: 0361-1981

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Bents; Bridge abutments; Bridge approaches; Bridge decks; Bridge railings; Concrete bridges; Drainage; Rehabilitation; Shotcrete; Sight distance
• Uncontrolled Terms: Replacing
• Geographic Terms: Minneapolis (Minnesota)
• Old TRIS Terms: Renovating; Safety shapes; Wing walls
• Subject Areas: Bridges and other structures; Construction; Design; Highways; Hydraulics and Hydrology; Maintenance and Preservation; I24: Design of Bridges and Retaining Walls;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00390860
• Record Type: Publication
• ISBN: 03090036593
• Files: TRIS, TRB
• Created Date: Dec 30 1984 12:00AM