Western Specialty Contractors Restores Pedestrian Bridge Connecting Minneapolis Parking Structure, Office Building

Western Specialty Contractors contracted with S and S Development to restore a damaged pedestrian bridge connecting the four-story Ridgedale Office Center to its parking structure in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

Years of severe winter weather had deteriorated the concrete bridge, and ultimately the collision of a horse trailer into the structure prompted its immediate repair. Western worked directly with engineering firm Walker Consultants to design a replacement bridge railing system and estimate the repair work.

The scope of work included:

• Removing the bridge’s old steel railing system on all sides
• Replacing the outer concrete edge
• Opening the precast plank’s outer core

After Western removed the old concrete edge, Walker inspected the structural components and initiated the design.

Western then installed new supplemental reinforcing steel embeds into the precast plank structure and poured a new supporting edge on the outside of either side of the bridge. To create the edge, the company utilized a fast-setting, ready-mix concrete from a local plant and placed the concrete using a conveyor system to speed up the process and complete the project before winter set in.

Western performed additional concrete repairs on the underside of the bridge and the abutments on either end. After completing all the concrete repairs, the company installed new galvanized railings and applied a traffic coating to protect the newly restored concrete deck.