Jan. 13: Lowry bridge: A flash in the span

People who were hoping for a snazzier Mississippi River bridge at the Interstate 35W crossing might get a second chance a few miles upstream when the rattling, shifting Lowry Avenue Bridge is replaced.

Hennepin County was already planning to replace the bridge linking north and northeast Minneapolis when the state-owned 35W bridge collapsed Aug. 1. But while work at the 35W site is already underway, the earliest start of construction of a new Lowry bridge would be October 2009.

And that's only if the county, which is looking into creating a landmark bridge, can get nearly $100 million in state and federal funds.

Few would argue that the current bridge, which has some parts dating to 1905 and was rebuilt in 1958, is nearing the end of its lifespan. Dozens of county officials from around the state who were visiting Minneapolis last month rode across the bridge on a bus, and everyone aboard could feel the spot where one of piers has shifted 11 inches off center.

There are no weight restrictions on the bridge right now, but "we're not kidding ourselves," said Jacob Bronder, the Hennepin County engineer who's in charge of the replacement. The bridge is being monitored monthly, and if any serious problems are found, there could be restrictions or another closure.

Of the estimated $109 million cost, the county is prepared to put up $12 million, which is its entire annual state aid budget for county roads. It's seeking $24.2 million from the state in bonding and the remaining $73 million from the federal government, most likely in the form of an earmark.

How much money the county gets will help determine what kind of bridge gets built.

The designs are in the $50 million to $70 million range, Bronder said. And no matter which one is chosen, the deck will no longer be made of a steel grid that you can see through. As drivers know, tires make loud noises upon contact, steering is trickier and plates on the deck rattle. "It's a little disconcerting for your first time," Bronder said.

And the deck "is a huge environmental concern," he said. While snow goes right through to the river, so do salt, fuels and all manner of other materials from vehicles. "If you're boating underneath, you don't want to get hit by a bolt from a truck," he said.

Effect on business

In recent years, businesses near the bridge have had to put up with a summerlong closure for repainting, and a yearlong closure to deal with the shifted pier and broken bearing.

But Pete Hanson is worried about an even bigger blow to his business. The building that serves as the home of Rocket Crane Co. is just 4 feet from a retaining wall on the west end of the bridge, and any widening of the bridge's right of way would put the building in jeopardy. His company has been on the site for 60 years. "You'd think seniority would rule over," he said, "but that's not going to be the case this time."

Ultimately, the city of Minneapolis would like to convert the industrial areas along the upper riverfront to parks and housing, meaning that Hanson's firm could be moved out eventually. The county is not an active player in those plans but wants to build a bridge that would allow them to go forward.

Mark Stenglein, the Hennepin County commissioner whose district includes the bridge, said the county is working to get Lowry Avenue designated as a feeder route to Interstate 94 in order to boost its appeal to Congress. He also said that U.S. Rep. Jim Oberstar, the Minnesota Democrat who is chairman of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, has visited the bridge.

Design and size

Bronder said residents are favoring the steel-arch "basket handle" design. Like the current bridge's overhead trusses, the arches give a feeling that you're passing through a bridge, not merely over it, he said.

Chris Gams, executive director of the Bottineau Neighborhood Association, said that many neighbors have questioned the need for a four-lane crossing because the current two-lane bridge is rarely congested and additional lanes would bring more cars and more pollution.

The county is hoping to start construction in October 2009, with the bridge opening to traffic in November 2011.

Jim Foti • 612-673-4491