Minnesota Department of Transportation

August 2012


Another perspective of the Main Span in the staging area. The existing bridge can be seen on the far left.	A view of the deck of the southbound lanes for the new South Approach

The 545 feet that the new Main Span will fit between.	A view of where the Main Span will connect to the South Approach.

A look at the Main Span down to the staging area where it was under construction to where it will connect to the South Approach.	The Main Span sits upon the Self Propelled Motorized Transporters (SPMTs) that were used to move it from land to barges.

A closer look at the SPMTs and what’s below the Main Span as it moves.	Before crews start to take apart the falsework – or temporary supports – for the Main Span

The moon glows high in the sky next to one of the arch ribs	Another view of the area where the Main Span will sit, with the existing bridge in the background

A view from underneath the deck. The pre-cast concrete girders supporting the deck were put in place earlier in the year and are the longest of their kind in Minnesota.	Looking up at one of the arch ribs

A view from underneath the deck. The pre-cast concrete girders supporting the deck were put in place earlier in the year and are the longest of their kind in Minnesota.	An inspection crew takes a closer look at the deck work

Crews gathering sections of the lifting system that will be used to move the Main Span the 50 feet up into place.	The railings next to the roadway match the color of the arches.

A side view of the North Approach from nearby Jaycee Park	Crews do finishing work on the deck of the new North Approach

Crews doing preliminary work for what will eventually be the divider between the roadway and the 12-foot-wide bike and pedestrian path	A member of the construction crew takes a closer look at the work

Crews do finishing working on the deck	A view of the new bridge next to the old bridge.

Welding a piece of falsework	A look underneath the deck. This falsework, or temporary supports, was in place until crews successfully tensioned the approach.


Looking down at the Main Span assembly site from across the Mississippi River	A view of the site where the Main Span – with its two arch ribs – will be lifted into place soon; the existing bridge stands in the background.

Looking at the arches from another perspective	A closer look at the Main Span. The arch ribs are temporarly supported by “shoring towers.” These will be removed before the Main Span is lifted up and moved out to barges by tranpsorters.

Underneath the floor system of the Main Span; the deck for the span will be poured after it is moved into place.

April 2012


A 210-ton crane used to maneuver the girders into place	The staging area where the girders are brought in and moved into place

Girders spanning between Piers 7 and 8	Forms and rebar in place for the North Approach in the foreground, with the existing bridge in the background

With six girders in place, a seventh is slowly brought in.	Looking between two girders before they are moved into place. The pier at the other side of the river is Pier 5.

It’s helpful to have a number of cranes on site for complex projects like moving 115-ton concrete girders

March 2012


There is very little wiggle room when placing one of these girders. There are little “nubs” on the pier that need to line up with holes on the bottom of the girders.	Another massive concrete girder arrives on site (March, 2012).

The girder and truck with specialized trailer make the descent down to the staging area. A spotter (on the left) walks alongside.	It takes a pretty heavy duty crane to lift 116 tons.

With three girders in place, a fourth is slowly brought in.	Girder length: 174 feet.

Crews secure a temporary support before hoisting it into place.	As the girder arrives at the staging area, crews help maneuver things into place prior to the lift.

February 2012


A close up view of the post-tensioning ducts located on the cap of Pier 6. Crews will run cables through these ducts and then use machinery to add tension to the cables so they provide the proper support for the bridge.	Another view of the post-tensioning ducts as they run through the pier cap of Pier 6. Eventually, crews will pour concrete around these ducts.

A close up view of the giant concrete “knuckle” underway at Pier 5.	Gracie the tugboat is used to move things on the river.

Another view of the post-tensioning ducts on Pier 6.	An inspector takes a close look at the post-tensioning ducts.

Crews secure a temporary support before hoisting it into place.	One of the project’s many cranes lifts one of the many large components used to build temporary support structures.

January 2012


A view from Jaycee Park, upstream (west) of the bridge.	Crews at work on the pier cap for Pier 6.

Crews hard at work on Piers 6 and 7 during an unseasonably warm January.	From right to left, Piers 6, 7, 8, 9 and 10.

This view shows how the main span of the new bridge will be similar in length to the span of the existing bridge.	A night view of the job site from the north side of the project looking south.

Forms and falsework keep things in place until construction resumes on the southbound roadway later this year.	A look from under the falsework – or temporary supports – for the southbound lanes of the south approach.

Pier 5’s pier cap is complete. Next up: construct the knuckles that will help connect the pier, main span and arches.

December 2011


After a wet spring and summer created challenges for the project, excellent fall weather resulted in a flurry of construction and produced this late fall sunset over the Mississippi River.	A night time view of the construction site with the existing bridge in the background (colors are enhanced).

A close up look at Pier 5 after pier cap work begins.	A November snow falls upon the construction site.

At the north approach, concrete girders are in place between Pier 10 and the north abutment.	Pier 9, complete with pier cap. The top of Pier 10’s pier cap and the massive beams that rest upon it can be seen through the center of Pier 9.


Crews work on the upper reaches of Pier 5 near downtown Hastings.	Even if it’s cold, the work needs to be done. Two crew members pump concrete in winter at Pier 5.

Warm concrete gets delivered to the construction site, then trucked over the causeway and onto a barge before being pumped into the forms.

South Approach (Fall 2011)


Falsework – or temporary support structures – holds up the forms for the southbound lanes of the new south approach.	Forms in place for the southbound lanes of the new south approach.

A close up look at Pier 5 after pier cap work begins.	A close-up look at Pier 5 before pier cap work begins.

A partial view of Pier 5 (left) and the existing bridge (right).
North Approach

Crews work on Pier 8.	A close up view of a rebar structure used inside one of the piers.

Looking down at Piers 6 (left) and 7 (right) during pile driving and prior to cofferdam dewatering.	A view of the new bridge construction with the existing bridge in the background.


Looking southeast at a closed 2nd Street. Although this section of road is closed, Historic Downtown Hastings remains easily accessible.	From closest to furthest – Pier 2 Southbound, Pier 3 Southbound, Pier 4 Southbound.

Filling the east access ramp back in after weekend utility work. Downtown Hastings is in the background.	Filling in the east access ramp back in after utility work.

Another view of Pier 4 Southbound under construction.	A completed Southbound Pier 3.

A look at the insides of a pier before the forms go up. This is the base of the stem (column) for Pier 4 northbound.	A worker readies the form for the Southbound Pier 2.

A completed pier (Southbound Pier 3) and a pier under construction (Southbound Pier 4).	Southbound Pier 4 from another angle.

Another view of Pier 4 Southbound under construction.	Two piers under construction-Northbound Pier 4 on the left; Southbound Pier 4 on the right.

Putting the form into place for Pier 2 Southbound.	Welding a pier form for Pier 2 Southbound.

Putting up the forms for the Southbound Pier 1 stem.	View underneath the existing bridge.

Looking south from the project’s northern staging area near Hub’s Landing Marina. In the background, forms are in place for Pier 10. On the right, forms and rebar are placed prior to pouring concrete for the north approach retaining wall.	A close up look at some of the rebar that will be inside the north retaining wall.


Looking south from the project’s northern staging area near Hub’s Landing Marina. Part of the north approach’s retaining wall emerges from the forms.	A mallard checks out the north side construction staging area.


In the foreground, completed pile caps.	Crews ready pile cap forms in the ground improvement area northwest of the existing bridge. The pile caps will become part of the support structure for the new bridge’s north approach.

Crews place a concrete bucket prior to pouring.	Crews release the bottom of the bucket and let the concrete flow into the pile cap form.

Finishing touches on the pile cap.	A worker places reinforcing steel to help steady the pier stem template.

A worker places reinforcing steel to help steady the pier stem template. (2nd shot)	Crews work on the pier stem for Pier 2 (southbound lanes).


Pier 5’s foundation girder rebar is formed and ready to be placed before concrete is poured.	Digging the trench for new sewer and water lines between the river and 2nd Street.

Starting to move Pier 5 foundation girder rebar into place.	Water overflowing the banks along the north side staging area creates a mirror image of the existing bridge.

Pier 9, looking north across the river near Historic Downtown Hastings.	Pier 9’s foundation with rebar for pier stems (or columns).