Third Avenue Bridge Rehabilitation Honored with National Public Works Award
Congratulations to the Third Avenue Bridge Rehabilitation team! The project was named the 2024 Public Works Project of the Year in the category of Historical Restoration/Preservation, more than $75 million, by the American Public Works Association.
Ames Construction performed the challenging restoration of the bridge, which spans the Mississippi River in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The project repaired deteriorating elements, improved safety and accessibility, and enhanced the bridge’s historical and visual features.
The Third Avenue Bridge is a reinforced concrete Melan arch bridge with seven spans and eight piers that anchor it to the limestone riverbed. Its distinctive shape—a shallow, reverse S-curve—was devised to avoid fractures in the bedrock. The structure was considered a significant engineering feat when it was opened in 1918.
Because construction access to the bridge via a water route was severely limited, the project team installed an elaborate hanging scaffold system to access the areas in need of repair.
Overcoming all obstacles, Ames delivered a successful project that has extended the life of the bridge by five decades with repaired spans and piers, a new bridge deck, updated lighting, repaired historical ornamental railing, and improved bicycling and walking paths separated from vehicular traffic.
The bridge reopened in October 2023 with a celebration that included a ribbon-cutting, tours, food, and music.
Learn more about this MnDOT project.
