As part of the larger Wakota Bridge project on Interstate 494, TKDA was hired by Minnesota Department of Transportation to design a ramp bridge connecting Highway 61 and I-494. The ramp bridge crosses two existing and one future track of Canadian Pacific Railway and one existing and one future track of Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railway. TKDA’s long-standing relationship with the two railroad companies made this project a perfect fit.
TKDA’s design called for 172.8-meter four-span steel bridge consisting of curved welded plate girder spans with a cast-in-place concrete deck. The bridge also included separate concrete overlay and concrete barrier traffic rails, as well as two parapet style abutments and three hammerhead style piers for support.