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.
T.Y. Lin International, an engineering firm that designed the High Bridge in St. Paul and has an office in Edina, is doing the design work. The firm offered up a range of looks, from standard concrete box girder to one with a pair of overhead arches that curve toward each other in what's called a "basket handle," the current favorite among community representatives.