MNDOT Awards I-35W Contract And Unveils Conceptual Design
Despite the protests of other design-build bidders, the Minnesota Dept. of Transportation Oct. 8 awarded a $243-million contract to a team of Longmont, Colo.-based Flatiron Constructors Inc. in joint venture with Seattle-based Manson Construction Co. Also on the team is Orlando-based Johnson Bros., in a support role and Tallahassee, Fla.-based Figg Bridge Engineers Inc. as lead designer.
At a subsequent press briefing, Figg president Linda Figg invoked "Arches, Water, Reflection" as the theme for the 1,216-ft-long, 10-lane concrete bridge with a 504-ft-long precast segmental main span clearing the river. Flatiron-Manson project manager Peter Sanderson added that the team hopes to start work on the so-called St. Anthony Falls Bridge by Nov. 1, with a Christmas Eve 2008 completion. "Our top priority is safety — both throughout construction and during the entire life of the bridge," he added.