I-35 / US 30 Flyover Progress

[JP4CY]

We're into next year! Nothing like those wicked huge and expensive steel setting cranes just sitting there, LOL.
http://www.amestrib.com/news/20180710/bridge-pier-repairs-delaying-i-35-interchange-project

 

[JP4CY]

I don't see how that's possible at all. I'm hoping they are at best done in time for snow and ice at the end of the year.

Well I called my shot.

 

[isufbcurt]

Oh man I didn't know Minnowa Construction was the contractor. I race against the owner of the company's son. lol. They own aggregate and hauling companies up in NE Iowa and SE Minnesota.

 

[VTXCyRyD]

Oh man I didn't know Minnowa Construction was the contractor. I race against the owner of the company's son. lol. They own aggregate and hauling companies up in NE Iowa and SE Minnesota.

You could always start up an awkward conversation with him to give us first hand updates.

 

[isufbcurt]

You could always start up an awkward conversation with him to give us first hand updates.

Me: Soooo your car was pretty fast in that last race, but your bridge work is pretty sloooowww.

 

[DurangoCy]

I deal with a ton of idiot Contractors (and I'm an idiot Engineer), so nothing really surprises me. ...but, I can't believe they had no clue how the super structure was going to tie into the piers before they placed the concrete.

Also, I wonder how much effort they went to in order to redesign the system so they didn't have to get out the jack hammers?

 

[wxman1]

I deal with a ton of idiot Contractors (and I'm an idiot Engineer), so nothing really surprises me. ...but, I can't believe they had no clue how the super structure was going to tie into the piers before they placed the concrete.

Also, I wonder how much effort they went to in order to redesign the system so they didn't have to get out the jack hammers?

According to the Ames Trib article they did.

 

[JP4CY]

I deal with a ton of idiot Contractors (and I'm an idiot Engineer), so nothing really surprises me. ...but, I can't believe they had no clue how the super structure was going to tie into the piers before they placed the concrete.

Also, I wonder how much effort they went to in order to redesign the system so they didn't have to get out the jack hammers?

There has been scaffolding on the “most south” pier for a month with numerous workers jackhammering by hand. There is now scaffolding on the next pier north of that one with workers jackhammering.
Remember this is the second South pier. The first one was completely taken down. Where the steel would be placed, to actually meet up with the “ “dirt work” ramp has been jackhammered as well.

 

[DurangoCy]

According to the Ames Trib article they did.

There has been scaffolding on the “most south” pier for a month with numerous workers jackhammering by hand. There is now scaffolding on the next pier north of that one with workers jackhammering.
Remember this is the second South pier. The first one was completely taken down. Where the steel would be placed, to actually meet up with the “ “dirt work” ramp has been jackhammered as well.

Poorly worded on my part, but I wonder how much they spent on trying to redesign before they had to get out the jackhammers.

 

[scottie33]

Poorly worded on my part, but I wonder how much they spent on trying to redesign before they had to get out the jackhammers.

You would think that they would be allowed to core drill an oversized hole and epoxy in anchor bolts and have a 3rd party pull-test the anchor bolts so they didn't have to go to this extreme of chipping for months on months. Is there that much uplift on these bridge decks that can't be verified by a pull-test?

 

[cmjh10]

Me: Soooo your car was pretty fast in that last race, but your bridge work is pretty sloooowww.

Just wreck him on the track

 

[DurangoCy]

You would think that they would be allowed to core drill an oversized hole and epoxy in anchor bolts and have a 3rd party pull-test the anchor bolts so they didn't have to go to this extreme of chipping for months on months. Is there that much uplift on these bridge decks that can't be verified by a pull-test?

Agree. I guess that's introducing another point for water to enter, but I would think an increase warranty would've been option. In any event, it would've been a fun conversation to grab a bucket of popcorn for!

 

[Cyclones_R_GR8]

At this point I would think it would be smarter to just demolish and build them correctly from scratch.

 

[Brandon]

Last I had heard the piers were about 6" to high and the company had the 2 large cranes reposesd.

 

[Cycsk]

Me: Soooo your car was pretty fast in that last race, but your bridge work is pretty sloooowww.

Or, you could tell him that you heard someone talking about how Minnowa is getting screwed by some sub-contractor they hired to do the work in Ames and let him tell you details while blaming someone else.

 

[isufbcurt]

Or, you could tell him that you heard someone talking about how Minnowa is getting screwed by some sub-contractor they hired to do the work in Ames and let him tell you details while blaming someone else.

I think I'll ask him if the rumor that someone fell in the forms and got buried alive in the concrete is true.

 

[harimad]

Measure twice. Pour once.

Is that the recipe behind the famous movie drink "make mine a double?"

 

[dafarmer]

On some of the flyovers in Council Bluffs, the IDiOT left no places for them to push snow off in case of a massive snowfall. Workers have been talking about a giant snow blower or even a payloader to remove deep snow.

 

[Cyclones_R_GR8]

On some of the flyovers in Council Bluffs, the IDiOT left no places for them to push snow off in case of a massive snowfall. Workers have been talking about a giant snow blower or even a payloader to remove deep snow.

It's the same way on the West Dodge Overpass. I don't know if they just bring in trucks and end loaders or what. We haven't had enough snow the last few years for it to be a problem.

 

[ISUAlum2002]

KCCI is doing a report on this project and the delays/costs tonight at 10pm.