PRODUCER: Croell Inc.
PRODUCTS USED: UltraFlo® 5600, OptiFlo® 50, ProLong® L, NitroCast® K, ConAir®, NitroCast® K
The I-90 river crossing project is a $187.5 million investment designed to deliver a new, structurally sound bridge with a 100 year design life. The bridge spans 2,593 feet in length and varies from 45 to 66 feet in width, carrying two 12-foot lanes in each direction along with a 12-foot eastbound acceleration lane, 12-foot outside shoulders, and six foot inside shoulders. The primary goal of this project was to enhance safety, traffic capacity, and access between I-90 and Highways 61 and 14 while replacing an outdated structure. The project also addressing several complex considerations including lock and dam access, Traveler Information center/Rest Area access, river user access, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Refuge, environmentally sensitive bluffs, railroad corridor, proximity to the airport, river navigation channel, and the Mississippi River Bike Trail.
A visual quality team was involved in the design process ensure the new infrastructure blends into the natural surroundings. The team made efforts to match stone colors and patterns to the local limestone, shaping piers to mirror local tree forms, using open bridge rails for river visibility, and installing subtle accent lighting.
The bridge required 53,000 cubic yards of concrete using six custom mix designs tailored for various performance needs. ConAir® was used throughout to increase freeze-thaw durability. UltraFlo® 5600 enabled pumpability in low water-cement ratio mixes. ProLong® L stabilized hydration, NitroCast® K accelerated set times in cold weather, and OptiFlo® 50 was used a a strength enhancer.
