Comments on: Upper Midwest Trip – Day 4 (more Twin Cities, Iowa) http://www.aaroads.com/blog/2007/05/03/upper-midwest-trip-day-4-more-twin-cities-iowa/ Road news. Pictures. Crazed ranting. Mon, 16 Jan 2012 06:24:30 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Froggie http://www.aaroads.com/blog/2007/05/03/upper-midwest-trip-day-4-more-twin-cities-iowa/comment-page-1/#comment-6235 Froggie Tue, 22 May 2007 03:33:34 +0000 http://www.aaroads.com/blog/?p=86#comment-6235 Several comments/corrections: - I-35E and I-694 will still share common pavement upon completion of the Unweave the Weave project. However, that pavement will be 12 lanes wide (vice the existing 6) and will have additional ramps added so as to minimize weaving between the two Interstates. - On your EB I-694 photo approaching I-35E, what you label the "Long Lake Rd" interchange is actually the Rice St interchange. Long Lake Rd is several miles to the west. - The "New 212" has actually been in planning since the 1950s. - MN 312 has existed out to Eden Prairie Rd since late 2001...that short spur from MN 5 was built when the segment of MN 5 that is part of the "New 212" was upgraded to freeway that year. West of Eden Prairie Rd is where the construction began in 2005. The extension to Dell Rd was completed and opened over this past winter (Monte Castleman made a post on MTR about it). I was on it last month when I was home briefly. Surprised you didn't go on it. - As Chris noted, MN 77 crosses the Minnesota River, not the Mississippi. Several comments/corrections:

- I-35E and I-694 will still share common pavement upon completion of the Unweave the Weave project. However, that pavement will be 12 lanes wide (vice the existing 6) and will have additional ramps added so as to minimize weaving between the two Interstates.

- On your EB I-694 photo approaching I-35E, what you label the “Long Lake Rd” interchange is actually the Rice St interchange. Long Lake Rd is several miles to the west.

- The “New 212″ has actually been in planning since the 1950s.

- MN 312 has existed out to Eden Prairie Rd since late 2001…that short spur from MN 5 was built when the segment of MN 5 that is part of the “New 212″ was upgraded to freeway that year. West of Eden Prairie Rd is where the construction began in 2005. The extension to Dell Rd was completed and opened over this past winter (Monte Castleman made a post on MTR about it). I was on it last month when I was home briefly. Surprised you didn’t go on it.

- As Chris noted, MN 77 crosses the Minnesota River, not the Mississippi.

]]> By: Alex http://www.aaroads.com/blog/2007/05/03/upper-midwest-trip-day-4-more-twin-cities-iowa/comment-page-1/#comment-5858 Alex Sun, 13 May 2007 18:07:02 +0000 http://www.aaroads.com/blog/?p=86#comment-5858 The trend overall seems to be replacing bridges with superstructure with those that are simply functional. When crossing the St. Croix River, it dawned me on how high up we were, and the newness of the bridge did catch me off guard. A shame that I missed what was there previously. There are some instances where bridges with superstructure are coming back. Take Interstate 490 in Rochester, New York for instance: Construction is ongoing to replace a standard concrete bridge over the Genesee River with a "signature" arch bridge. Simarly the Indian River Inlet Bridge along Delaware 1 may be replaced with an arch or cable-stayed bridge. Currently that span is just a standard steel and concrete bridge. The trend overall seems to be replacing bridges with superstructure with those that are simply functional. When crossing the St. Croix River, it dawned me on how high up we were, and the newness of the bridge did catch me off guard. A shame that I missed what was there previously.

There are some instances where bridges with superstructure are coming back. Take Interstate 490 in Rochester, New York for instance: Construction is ongoing to replace a standard concrete bridge over the Genesee River with a “signature” arch bridge. Simarly the Indian River Inlet Bridge along Delaware 1 may be replaced with an arch or cable-stayed bridge. Currently that span is just a standard steel and concrete bridge.

]]> By: Chris Lokken http://www.aaroads.com/blog/2007/05/03/upper-midwest-trip-day-4-more-twin-cities-iowa/comment-page-1/#comment-5829 Chris Lokken Sat, 12 May 2007 04:56:31 +0000 http://www.aaroads.com/blog/?p=86#comment-5829 I should also point out that a lot of bridge reconstruction has been done in the state of Minnesota (Patrick Lilya informed me of this), and the previously abundant tied-arch bridges have been replaced by simple bridges without structure. The MN 77 bridge and a bridge up in Duluth (can't remember which one Patrick said), I believe, are the only two tied-arch bridges left in Minnesota. The bridge on I-94/US 12 over the St. Croix used to be one as well. I remember crossing that (the first memory of leaving the state of Wisconsin) and being in awe. Now the sense of awe is very much diminished with the newer bridge... I should also point out that a lot of bridge reconstruction has been done in the state of Minnesota (Patrick Lilya informed me of this), and the previously abundant tied-arch bridges have been replaced by simple bridges without structure. The MN 77 bridge and a bridge up in Duluth (can’t remember which one Patrick said), I believe, are the only two tied-arch bridges left in Minnesota.

The bridge on I-94/US 12 over the St. Croix used to be one as well. I remember crossing that (the first memory of leaving the state of Wisconsin) and being in awe. Now the sense of awe is very much diminished with the newer bridge…

]]> By: Chris Lokken http://www.aaroads.com/blog/2007/05/03/upper-midwest-trip-day-4-more-twin-cities-iowa/comment-page-1/#comment-5689 Chris Lokken Fri, 04 May 2007 04:28:39 +0000 http://www.aaroads.com/blog/?p=86#comment-5689 Wow. You hit a lot of the Twin Cities that I've never seen before! And I usually visit them once a year! Looks like I'll have to check out I-694 sometime soon! One thing though...I believe the bridge on MN 77 crosses the Minnesota River and not the Mississippi... Wow. You hit a lot of the Twin Cities that I’ve never seen before! And I usually visit them once a year! Looks like I’ll have to check out I-694 sometime soon!

One thing though…I believe the bridge on MN 77 crosses the Minnesota River and not the Mississippi…

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