Project will improve safety, access to transit and service life of the bridge designed by the firm 30 years ago
MINNEAPOLIS (June 27, 2023) – Hennepin County, Minnesota selected HNTB to rehabilitate Minneapolis’ iconic Hennepin Avenue Suspension Bridge which the firm designed more than 30 years ago. The project will improve safety, access to transit and extend the structure’s useful life for decades to come.
“As the original designer of the bridge, this is a significant project for HNTB as it is our goal to serve as a trusted partner throughout the life of our clients’ most valuable assets,” said Sara Hage, AICP, ASLA, HNTB’s Minneapolis office leader and associate vice president. “We look forward to collaborating with Hennepin County and its partners, and are dedicated to ensuring this iconic structure lasts long into the future.”
Hennepin County, the bridge owner, is partnering with the City of Minneapolis and the Minnesota Department of Transportation to rehabilitate the bridge and adjacent girder approach bridges. The project will address structural and aesthetic items to extend the service life of the assets.
HNTB is providing project management, suspension span modeling, inspection, load rating(s), reports, cost estimating and maintenance manual evaluation. Future phases include roadway and bridge design, traffic control, environmental documentation and permitting, and construction engineering inspection.
HNTB also is assisting Hennepin County in writing a grant application for additional funding to modify the bridge deck’s geometry and improve transit, bicycle and pedestrian access.
“The Hennepin Avenue Bridge carries a large number of vehicles, pedestrians, cyclists and buses,” said Dan Enser, PE, HNTB project manager. With that many traffic modes, improvements to the cross section will significantly improve safety, mobility and efficiency.”
HNTB also was responsible for the final design of the historic Third Avenue Bridge rehabilitation project which is downstream from the Hennepin Avenue Bridge.