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I-90 DRESBACH BRIDGE REPLACEMENT

Dresbach, MN / La Crosse, WI

ROJECT DETAILS

  • Design Criteria:
    • 100 year bridge life
    • Provide two 12-foot lanes each direction
    • Eastbound acceleration lane
    • Twelve-foot outside shoulders
    • Six-foot inside shoulders
  • Owner: Minnesota Department of Transportation
  • Designer: Figg Bridge Engineers, Inc.
  • General Contractor: Ames Construction
  • Contractor Engineering Services: Finley Engineering Group, Inc.
  • Total Project Cost: $225 million
  • Total Project Size: LENGTH: 2,490 ft
    WIDTH: 67 ft
  • Year Completed: 2016

The I-90 Bridge spans the Mississippi River between Dresbach, Minnesota and La Crosse, Wisconsin. Built in 1967, it is a 2,490-foot steel girder bridge carrying four lanes of traffic. The existing, fracture-critical bridge has narrow shoulders that cause lane closures when vehicles are stranded or during routine maintenance operations. In addition, the I-90 and Highway 61 interchange has substandard geometrics and higher than average crash rates.

In 2006 a study was conducted on possible alternative modifications and it was determined that a new bridge was the most attractive option.

New Bridge
Construction began on the new bridge in late 2012. The new crossing will consist of two separate bridges parallel and upstream from the existing bridge. They will be concrete box girder structures over the main river channel and precast concrete girders over the back channel. The new I-90 eastbound bridge is scheduled to be complete in June 2015, and the westbound bridge is expected to be completed in 2016.

Key Features:

  • Concrete colored finish to complement surrounding limestone bluffs
  • Bridge pier shapes honoring the shape of local trees
  • Bridge type that does not compete with views
  • Open bridge rail allowing river views
  • Accent lighting preserving the natural lighting environment
  • Epoxy-coated reinforcing steel within the box and column sections

Important Milestones Reached
The Dresbach Bridge project has already earned many accolades. It was named as one of the top 10 bridges of 2013 by Roads and Bridges magazine. Each year the magazine’s editorial staff recognizes the top projects in North America based on project challenges, impact to the region, and scope of work. Another consideration for this award was because of the eco-conscious construction methods being used.