February 2008

The Management Plan for Historic Bridges in Minnesota wins ACEC MN Award

The Management Plan for Historic Bridges in Minnesota project completed by Mead & Hunt and HNTB has received an award from the American Council of Engineering Companies (ACEC) of Minnesota during their 2008 Engineering Excellence Awards Competition.  The Engineering Excellence Awards is an annual competition recognizing leading-edge projects from throughout the state.

The Management Plan for Historic Bridges in Minnesota is the guiding document for the Minnesota Department of Transportation’s efforts to rehabilitate and preserve historic bridges.  Completed in June 2006, the plan provides state and local bridge owners with technical information and guidance to manage and preserve historic bridges.  Minnesota has more than 200 historically significant highway bridges.  Mn/DOT owns 15 percent of these, while counties and cities own the remaining 85 percent.

Mn/DOT’s innovative approach to historic bridge management using the team method is presented in this plan.  This method effectively brings historic preservation and bridge engineering into a dialogue to address difficult bridge issues, such as load capacity, widening, railing replacement, and structural deterioration.  On behalf of Mn/DOT, Mead & Hunt and HNTB introduced and used the team approach to prepare plans for 22 state-owned bridges.  The management plan streamlines the process for considering rehabilitation and replacement alternatives and reduces the time and expense of fulfilling regulatory requirements associated with federally funded projects. 

Each plan presents practical recommendations for how an individual bridge can be kept in use for the next 20 years.  The recommended treatments and associated costs provide vital information for the bridge owner, who can then make informed management decisions.  Further, the plans provide an essential model for local bridge owners grappling with these same issues.

As a result of the guidance presented in this plan and Mn/DOT’s commitment to preserve historic bridges, the following projects are currently underway:
• Relocation and reuse of two historic highway bridges (Bridge Nos. 5721 dating to the late 19th-century and 5388 built in 1935) on state recreational trails.
• A preservation plan for the historic Stillwater Lift Bridge built in 1931 (Bridge No. 4654).
• Reconstruction of the historic railing of the Lester River Bridge built in 1925 (Bridge No. 5772).
• Rehabilitation of the National Register-listed Faribault Viaduct built in 1937-39 (Bridge No. 5370).

Historic preservation enhances our environment for human activities through sustainable reuse of existing structures and making meaningful connections to our heritage.  Through the Management Plan for Historic Bridges in Minnesota, Mn/DOT is encouraging owners of historic bridges to consider proactive ways to maintain and preserve these important resources in their communities.  The plan promotes the sustainable reuse of historic bridges and advances the recognition of the state’s cultural heritage. 

Historic bridge preservation can save valuable taxpayer dollars while recalling a community’s heritage and dreams.  Instead of losing the work of talented craftsmen from an earlier era, these valuable structures can be maintained by following the plan’s guidance.  By identifying early-on which bridges are significant and deserve higher levels of rehabilitation and maintenance, Mn/DOT helps local bridge owners focus their limited transportation funds. 

The project team identified a simple solution to a complex problem by using an innovative and streamlined process.  This effort was recognized by the client:  “This was a very complicated project with no predecessor to build from in any state.  Mead & Hunt and HNTB were extremely helpful in providing their expertise and guidance through the development of the project.  At times, we as an agency were unsure how to proceed or address certain issues.  Mead & Hunt and HNTB were very helpful in providing suggestions...” (Mn/DOT Consultant Performance Evaluation, Sept. 2006).

Completed on time and on budget, the Management Plan for Historic Bridges in Minnesota culminates a 20-year effort by the state to identify significant historic bridges and plan for their long-term preservation where feasible.

“The consultant team, led by Mead & Hunt, addressed the unique challenges of preserving and maintaining historic bridges, including funding, rehabilitation, maintenance, and standards, and presented viable solutions within the framework of the management plan.” Rick Arnebeck, Division Director, Minnesota Department of Transportation.