October 8, 2007 - The Minnesota Department of Transportation has officially awarded a contract to the Flatiron-Manson company for designing and building a new 35W bridge. MnDOT officials released some design sketches of the bridge this afternoon and talked about why Flatiron beat out two other firms for the $234 million dollar bridge contract. Minnesota Public Radio's Tom Scheck has more.
October 8, 2007 - The state Department of Administration has recommended rejecting a protest filed by two losing bidders for theInterstate 35W bridge replacement. The companies had argued that the bidding process was flawed. The winning bid of nearly $234 million came from Flatiron Constructors and Manson Construction. It was the most expensive of the three bids and would take longest to complete. Minnesota Public Radio's Tom Scheck has more.
October 9, 2007 - The plans have been unveiled, the contract is signed, and in spite of legal threats from contractors who lost the bidding process, surveying begins Tuesday for the new 35W bridge. Where does funding stand for the bridge project and other transportation priorities in Minnesota? The designers of the 35W bridge presented two options for the concrete piers that support the structure. A discussion on Midday.
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.