June 30 Bridge 9 Improvement Project Update
Friday, June 30, 2023 at 3:34PM
Bridge No. 9 was constructed in 1922 by the Northern Pacific Railroad to carry freight over the Mississippi. The City of Minneapolis acquired this bridge in 1986 and converted the bridge to a pedestrian use bridge in 1999. The bridge currently provides a Mississippi River crossing for the Dinkytown Greenway bike trail.
Beginning in July 2022, the City of Minneapolis started making repairs and improvements to Bridge 9, Pier 5.
Latest project news
2023 Construction Phase
Rehabilitation work in 2023 is focused on the easterly end of the bridge. The work includes rehabilitation of the bridge seat at the easterly abutment (abutment 1), rehab of the most easterly bridge pier (pier 2), and stabilization of the bluff face between pier 2 and abutment 1. Rehabilitation work consists of removal of degraded concrete from the structures and degraded rock from the bluff and wrapping the remaining sound concrete and rock with a layer of reinforced concrete. Concrete on the bluff will be colored to match the existing rock and sprayed on to follow the contours of the bluff.
View from under the bridge of seat degradation
The work takes place within Bridge 9 right of way through University of Minnesota property. It is occurring adjacent to the U of M Main Energy Plant. Access and staging for the work were closely coordinated with University officials.
View of the surface approaching bridge 9 looking westerly
Schedule
Construction activities this season started in April of 2023. The scheduled completion date is December 1, 2023. The contractor is currently anticipating substantial completion by the end of September 2023.
Traffic Impact
The bridge will always remain open to bicyclists and pedestrians this season; however, passage widths will be restricted in the work area. Bicyclists are advised to walk their bikes through this area.
Current work
For the month of June, the following construction operations were performed: Placement of bluff reinforcement anchors and reinforcement for bluff face concrete encasement (commonly referred to as shotcrete), excavation and foundation preparation for pier 2 encasement, anchor, and rebar placement for the bridge seat at the abutment and cap of pier 2 and associated concrete pours, and placement of reinforcement forming for encasement of the pier and pouring the first lift.
Pouring first lift of pier encasement
Top of bluff prepared for stabilization with shotcrete
Coming up
Completion of shotcrete on the bluff and continuation of forming and pouring pier 2 encasement.
Stay Connected
For more details and to sign up for email updates please visit the Bridge 9 Improvement project webpage.
