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Six months into building the new Hastings Bridge, MnDOT crews have a problem on their hands. A broken cable has caused a problem for crews building the new Hastings bridge construction is well under way on the project, including work on the massive piers that will support the new bridge. It was while work was being done on one of the piers that the problem surfaced.
Much of the work taking place right now has to do with cofferdams, which are essentially watertight compartments that run from the bottom of the river to the surface. The cofferdams are about 90-feet by 30-feet and allow crews access to the bottom of the river in order to pour footings for the bridge. Crews were lowering the framework for one of those cofferdams when the equipment failed. It is believed that a cable on one piece of equipment failed.
The framework fell, but is being supported by temporary pilings in the river. While those pilings are supporting the framework, they’ve also been knocked out of place because of the incident. They will be removed from the river and new ones will be driven. A new barge and a new crane are being brought to the river to work with the one already in place. The two barge-mounted-cranes will lift the framework out of the water and place it on a floating barge nearby. The framework will have to be realigned. Nobody was injured in the incident.
Steve Kordosky, the project manager with the Minnesota Department of Transportation, said that the whole incident will cause a one-week delay for crews, but won’t affect the long-term construction of the bridge, which will be open in full by the end of May 2013.Today crews are using barges and frames to get the frame for the cofferdam back into position. The setback will cost under $5,000 to be paid for by the builders, Lund and Ames Construction companies. It will not raise the price of the construction contract, and therefore will not not affect what the taxpayers pay. The problem will put workers behind schedule by about a week. The problem is not expected to be fixed until next Wednesday.
The new Hastings Bridge will be a 21st century landmark to be trusted and enjoyed by current and future generations. With a 100-year life span, the new bridge will enhance mobility and safety for both the community and the region, and become part of Hastings’ identity. You all can track the progress on the bridge here#
