October 9, 2007 - Officials with the construction team of Flatiron Manson will begin survey work today Tues for the new I-35W bridge. The move comes one day after the team signed a contract with the Minnesota Department of Transportation to rebuild the bridge that collapsed into the Mississippi River. But one factor could hold up the construction, a possible lawsuit by two of the teams that didn't win the bid. Minnesota Public Radio's Tom Scheck reports:
October 9, 2007 - The new bridge's design was unveiled yesterday. Tom Fisher, Dean of the University Minnesota's College of Design, comments.
October 10, 2007 - Now that the design of the new I-35W bridge has been unveiled, members of the public are getting a chance to weigh in on how it looks. Some people we talked with say the light-colored, concrete span looks a little drab. But everyone we spoke with said, the most important thing is, the new bridge should be safe and strong. Minnesota Public Radio's Brandt Williams has our report:
October 10, 2007 - State lawmakers say they intend to hold another hearing on a request by the Pawlenty Administration for spending authority for the new I-35W bridge. A special panel of eight lawmakers met yesterday and criticized the Minnesota Department of Transportation for signing a contract to build the bridge before the federal government has sent the money for the project. Several lawmakers also object to the size of the request and worry that they will give a disfunctional department too much money. Minnesota Public Radio's Tom Scheck reports...
October 11, 2007 - The big hurryup to get the new 35W bridge built means working through a Minnesota winter. And even with our recent history of warmer than normal winters it can still get pretty darn cold in January and February. Not to worry, the bridge builders say. We've been building structures for decades in cold weather they point out. The secret according to the engineers is keeping the fingers, the water and the sand warm. Minnesota Public Radio's Dan Olson reports.
October 15, 2007 - Three separate investigative teams are looking into the causes of the collapse of the I-35W bridge. Federal investigators aren't saying much about any of the analysis. A National Transportation and Safety Board spokesman says the board is still in the fact finding stage of its work. Minnesota Public Radio's Sea Stachura reports the process can be a long one and sometimes the findings are not as solid as investigators might hope.
October 15, 2007 - This is the first full week of work on the new $234 million I 35W bridge. Flatiron/Manson is under contract to get the bridge up and carrying traffic by December 24th, 2008. But the cost and the challenges of building a new bridge don't end with concrete and steel. State, local and federal officials have to deal everything from lost parking spots to threats to the pearly eyed mussel. And almost everything affected by the bridge collapse and bridge reconstruction has a price tag. Minnesota Public Radio's Tom Scheck reports.
October 15, 2007 - A special panel of state lawmakers has given the Minnesota Department of Transportation greater spending authority to rebuild the I-35W bridge. But the money is just a third of what MnDOT was asking for. MnDOT officials say the decision could force them to delay construction of some other road and bridge projects but Democrats in control of the Legislature don't see it that way. Minnesota Public Radio's Tom Scheck reports.
October 18, 2007 - Linda Figg, lead designer of the I-35W bridge replacement project, talks about how the new 35W bridge will be designed to weather Minnesota's extreme winters and summers.
October 19, 2007 - On this Midmorning program, MPR’s Kerri Miller talks with Minneapolis Mayor R.T. Rybak about the politics of the funding and design of the I-35W bridge replacement. He also talks about the new settlement on reducing airport noise for some homeowners, one that took years to achieve, and answers listener questions.