Lowry Bridge update
03/01/2009
Lowry Bridge will be coming down. Photo by Randy Klauk.
The current status of the Lowry Bridge Replacement Project is that Hennepin County opened bids for the removal project on February 10. The apparent low-bid of just under $2 million was Carl Bolander and Sons, Inc. of St. Paul. Hennepin County Senior Project Manager and Bridge Engineer Jacob Bronder says, "We hope to award the removal project in March and begin the demolition soon thereafter.
Bronder says the replacement project is moving ahead as well, "We plan to go before the Minneapolis Transportation and Public Works Committee [February 24] requesting layout approval of the overall project. Once approved, we will continue on to the final design and preparation of construction documents."
"We anticipate advertising for bids for the replacement project in August of this year and hope to begin reconstruction in September. It is our goal to reopen the crossing in November of 2011. We are, of course, investigating opportunities to accelerate the reconstruction," said Bronder.
As far as project funding is concerned, at this time, the county will be funding the project with county bonds and state bridge bonds. They have applied for federal stimulus funding, unfortunately, none has been identified for this project yet. Bronder says, "We have not given up hope and are actively pursuing this."