Parsons Bridge Project in Minnesota Reaches Significant Milestone

Parsons is pleased to announce that the Hastings Bridge, which will carry Trunk Highway 61 over the Mississippi River in Hastings, MN, has reached a significant milestone. Erected on land, moved onto barges using self-propelled modular transporters, and slid between the recently constructed piers, the 545-ft freestanding tied-arch bridge was recently lifted 70 ft into place using 1,200-ton strand jacks. To date, this is the heaviest bridge move in the United States.

In 2010, the Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT) selected the design-build joint venture of Lunda Construction of Black River Falls, WI, and Ames Construction of Burnsville, MN, with Parsons as the lead designer through a best value design-build procurement method. The Lunda/Ames/Parsons team developed the innovative tied arch structure as a design alternative to MnDOT’s baseline preliminary design, which resulted in a best value score 20% higher than any other team.

“This is an important milestone for the Hastings Bridge project, and we are proud to have used such an innovative design approach,” said Tom Barron, Parsons Group President.

At 1,938 ft long, the $120 million Hastings Bridge is the longest freestanding tied-arch bridge in North America. In addition, the bridge has a 100-year service life and features a steel box arch rib with a post-tensioned concrete tie girder and a network hanger system. The approach structures to the bridge include a five-span full depth solid cast-in-place post-tensioned slab structure to the south and a five-span precast concrete beam and deck structure to the north. The bridge is expected to be completed in October 2015. Please visit http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iAbYE6ZstPE to view a video of the bridge move.

Parsons, celebrating more than 65 years of growth in the engineering, construction, technical, and professional services industries, is a leader in many diversified markets with a focus on transportation, environmental/infrastructure, and defense/security. Parsons delivers design/design-build, program/construction management, and other professional services packaged in innovative alternative delivery methods to federal, regional, and local government agencies, as well as to private industrial customers worldwide. For more about Parsons, please visit www.parsons.com.