Overview
- MnDOT recommended Alternative
- Project fact sheet (PDF, 1 MB)
Location
- City of Winona
Schedule
- Current preliminary design schedule (PDF, 211 KB)
- Construction begins in 2015
Cost
- $150 million to $175 million (total planning-level cost estimate)
- Cost range includes right-of-way, design and construction contract administration and reflects a number of unknowns and assumptions
Frequently Asked Questions
About the Project…
What is being proposed?
The Project Fact sheet (PDF, 1 MB) provides basic information about the Winona Bridge.
MnDOT is currently focusing on study of rehabilitation options.
Is the bridge safe to drive on?
MnDOT inspected the bridge in June 2010 and identified several repairs needed to keep the bridge open to traffic. Those repairs were completed in the summer of 2010. To minimize future repair needs and accompanying traffic closures, MnDOT “posted” the bridge, restricting vehicles over 80,000 pounds from using this river crossing. MnDOT will inspect the bridge on a regular basis and continue to make repairs needed to keep the bridge in service. Inspections performed in 2011 identified no major issues needing repair.
Why consider a major project now?
Laws passed by the Minnesota legislature following the I-35W Bridge collapse provide funding for rehabilitation or replacement of certain types of bridges in the state. The Winona Bridge is “fracture critical” by nature of its truss design. The current study is focused on rehabilitating the bridge to ensure its continued structural integrity.
Why are rehabilitation options being examined?
The study is focusing on rehabilitation options at this time. The existing bridge is eligible for the National Register of Historic Places. Federal laws protecting historic structures require that MnDOT study options which would preserve the bridge as long as practical. Various options under study include different combinations of rehabilitation and new construction for sections of the bridge.
What is involved in rehabilitating a bridge?
A rehabilitation project could range from fairly minimal repairs and painting, to a major overhaul such as disassembling the bridge and rebuilding it with partially new materials. A range of options is under study to identify which types of rehabilitation would provide the needed structural repairs, while also preserving the historic character of the bridge to the greatest extent feasible.
How long would a rehabilitation project take?
The length of time a project would take is dependent on which option is selected. A minor project might be able to be completed while traffic continues to use the bridge, while a more intensive project could take as long as a new construction project. An important study parameter for major bridge rehabilitation projects is the relationship between cost and time. Engineers must sometimes decide between using costly techniques to accelerate the pace of construction and finish a project more quickly, or using more conventional techniques at lower cost but with greater community disruption. Evaluating and weighing the costs of construction and the costs of community impacts is an important part of this study.
Would rehabilitation require closing the bridge to traffic?
One of the project goals is to keep the bridge open to traffic as much as is feasible. MnDOT understands the Winona community on both sides of the river relies on the bridge, and area residents and business owners do not want a long term closure.
Some types of rehabilitation work could be performed while the bridge continues to carry traffic. Impacts could range from minor inconveniences such as off-peak lane closures for simple construction work, to multi-day complete closures for complicated structural repairs. Certain types of major structural rehabilitation could require complete closure of the bridge for one or more construction seasons. It is possible that a rehabilitation program requiring a lengthy period of complete closure could also include construction of a parallel temporary bridge to maintain traffic. MnDOT is studying this issue closely and is evaluating methods to mitigate closures and keep traffic flowing at this important river crossing.
Will a rehabilitated bridge be able to carry heavy trucks?
Currently, extremely heavy vehicles (over 40 tons, the legal highway weight limit) are not allowed to use the bridge. Legal weight limit commercial trucks can continue to use the bridge, but passage of heavier commercial trucks (“permit loads”) would risk damaging it and such loads are forbidden. For most bridges, heavier vehicles are allowed with a permit. The ability of a rehabilitated Winona Bridge to carry heavy vehicles is under study, with the goal that a rehabilitation program will enable the bridge to once again carry heavy commercial “permit load” vehicles.
What is the process – who decides?
Decisions regarding the project will be made by MnDOT as the agency responsible for the bridge, in consultation with the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA). MnDOT will also obtain approval (municipal consent) from the City of Winona for the project as required by state law.
MnDOT must also obtain a number of other approvals for the project addressing river navigation, environmental impacts, and land acquisition.
MnDOT is moving forward in a collaborative process involving City and County staff, state and federal permitting agencies, and representatives from the Winona area, to identify and evaluate alternatives, leading to selection of a preferred alternative that best balances the many concerns associated with the project.
What’s taking so long?
The process of identifying options originally looked at both rehabilitation and the potential for building a second (new) bridge on a new alignment, either right next to the existing bridge or at an alternative location such as Huff Street. As the study progressed, much has been learned about environmental and community issues, the historic character of the bridge, and the details of potential rehabilitation needs. While the process may seem lengthy, the critical analysis needed to understand if the bridge can be rehabilitated in a cost-effective manner and the assessment of replacement bridge options are complicated tasks requiring time to ensure that all viewpoints are carefully considered.
MnDOT and project stakeholders have agreed that an additional investment of time was needed to clarify the rehabilitation option goals with the agencies involved, to thoroughly evaluate the condition of the existing bridge, and to identify cost-effective options for rehabilitation that also preserve the historic character of the bridge. This additional investment will pay dividends in project efficiency and user benefits.
If the bridge is rehabilitated, will there be a parallel new bridge?
The study is focusing on rehabilitation options at this time, rather than new bridge options. However, a temporary bridge to carry traffic during the rehabilitation is also under consideration. New permanent bridge options have not been eliminated.
Regarding the alternatives…
I’m concerned about the impact of a four-lane roadway. Is a four-lane bridge needed? Are you taking into account changes in traffic needs due to less driving or smaller vehicles?
To determine the appropriate number of traffic lanes for this river crossing MnDOT examined the amount of traffic which uses the bridge today, the amount of traffic anticipated in the future, and how the traffic needs to move onto and away from the bridge. Existing traffic volumes could be handled with only one lane in each direction. However, MnDOT must also consider anticipated future traffic volumes in order to make responsible decisions about long-term investments in the river crossing. The methods used to estimate future traffic volumes consider historic traffic volumes, projected changes in driving patterns, community changes, technological advances, and modal impacts (i.e. bicycling, walking, and using transit).
Traffic forecasts and analyses of future traffic operations indicate that two lanes will not provide sufficient capacity for future traffic volumes between 4th Street and the river. MnDOT is studying rehabilitation alternatives that would provide increased traffic capacity in this area. One group of alternatives would widen the roadway to four lanes from 4th Street north toward the river, with a transition back to two lanes at the main river spans. These alternatives would keep and rehabilitate the existing main truss structure over the river while reconstructing the approach spans just north of 4th Street Traffic operations analysis indicates that this configuration could accommodate forecast traffic volumes for the foreseeable future (e.g. next 20-25 years).
Another possible group of alternative would rehabilitate the existing bridge without widening the roadway, while also constructing a new two-lane bridge adjacent to the existing structure. This would provide two bridges configured as a “one-way pair” with two lanes of outbound traffic on one bridge and two lanes of inbound traffic on the other bridge.
Analysis of traffic patterns indicates that traffic both approaching and leaving the bridge is dispersed in all directions throughout the City of Winona (see graphic from October 2010 Open House for more detail). The existing road network is expected to accommodate future traffic volumes with relatively minor adjustments at a limited number of intersections.
Will the different alignments change the truck routes through Winona? I’m concerned about more trucks coming through my neighborhood.
Rehabilitation of the existing bridge would not directly affect permanent truck routes in the City of Winona since no changes would be made in bridge alignment. It is possible that short-term changes in truck routing during construction could occur if a temporary bridge for maintenance of traffic is part of the selected alternative.
If a new bridge is part of the project, potential changes to truck routes will be assessed (along with related community impacts) for all alternatives. Changes to truck routes would be determined by the City of Winona and MnDOT. Typically local neighborhood streets are not assigned truck routes due to their limited pavement design. Truck routes must also accommodate the turning radius and width of larger vehicles.
How will traffic access Riverview Drive? Wouldn’t it be easier if vehicles could go directly to Riverview Drive from the bridge?
Analysis of traffic patterns approaching/leaving the Highway 43 bridge show that one-third of the traffic originates or is destined to the area west of Huff Street; the remaining two-thirds of the traffic is coming from/going to the east or the south. Given this analysis, a bridge alignment directed specifically toward Riverview Drive would create a significant detour for the majority of the traffic.
However, access to Riverview Drive, and the port facilities located in this area, remains a critical issue. Options for providing direct access to Riverview Drive from the bridge via an “exit ramp” have been examined but are problematic from an engineering perspective due to clearances required for river navigation and railroad routes parallel to Riverview Drive.
Why were some alignments dismissed?
Study is currently focused on rehabilitation of the existing bridge, which would not require a permanent new river crossing alignment.
Early studies also investigated the potential for a new bridge. A broad range of new bridge location alternatives has been considered since the project began in 2009. Analysis of traffic patterns early in the project found that traffic using the bridge was evenly dispersed geographically through the City, indicating that a centralized bridge location would most effectively serve the majority of the traffic. The Pelzer and Mankato alignments were dismissed largely because of this issue. Other more centralized alignments at Harriet, Washington and Johnson Streets were dismissed due to the potential for significant property impacts as existing street widths were too narrow to accommodate a bridge without significant impacts.
I’m concerned about impacts to my neighborhood, parks, community facilities, etc. How does MnDOT plan to prevent or address impacts?
Regardless of whether a rehabilitation-only option is selected, or a new bridge is part of the solution, MnDOT is evaluating the alternatives based on potential impacts to the community and the environment, as well as how well the alternatives meet the project purpose and need. Broad assessment of potential impacts will be used to select a preferred alternative. Once a preferred alternative is selected, a more detailed analysis will determine how potential impacts can be avoided or minimized. This analysis will be documented in an environmental document and made available for public input prior to project approvals.
About next steps in the process…
When and how will a preferred alternative be selected?
MnDOT is currently studying and evaluating rehabilitation options, including assessing the physical, community and environmental impacts as well as the cost and transportation benefits of the alternatives.
The decision regarding a preferred alternative will involve input from all stakeholders. Due to agency involvement with the rehabilitation process, the schedule for making project decisions is currently unknown.
An important part of the decision process will be input from the community. Business representatives, local government officials, and the Project Advisory Committee will be part of a collaborative and open process. MnDOT will also present the alternatives analysis and gather input from the public at an open house meeting.
When a meeting date is set, MnDOT will work with City officials to get the word out to the community through news releases and notices to community organizations. Meeting notices will also be placed on the MnDOT website. If your organization is interested in assisting in this effort, please send an email to the MnDOT Project Manager, Jai Kalsy (jai.kalsy@state.mn.us).
Your input is important to this process. Please provide comments to the MnDOT Project Manager, Jai Kalsy (jai.kalsy@state.mn.us or (507)286-7545).
Right of way assumptions – When will you let property owners know? We need to make decisions now.