Red Wing Bridge

The Red Wing Bridge was a cantilever bridge which carries U.S. Route 63 across the Mississippi River from Wisconsin to Red Wing, Minnesota. It is officially named the Eisenhower Bridge for Dwight D. Eisenhower, the 34th President of the United States, who opened the bridge in November 1960. MnDOT, in cooperation with WisDOT, the FHWA, and the City of Red Wing, is conducting the Red Wing Bridge Project. The project includes the Highway 63 (Eisenhower) Bridge over the Mississippi River and the Highway 63 Bridge over Highway 61, as well as the highway connections to Highway 61, Minnesota Highway 58, and approach roadways in Wisconsin. The Eisenhower Bridge provides the only regional crossing of the river for approximately 30 miles upstream and downstream for several communities on both the Wisconsin and Minnesota sides of the river.

Laws passed by the Minnesota legislature following the I-35W Bridge collapse provide funding for rehabilitation or replacement of certain types of bridges in the state. The Eisenhower Bridge is “fracture critical” by nature of its truss design and therefore is eligible for funding through the new State funding program.

MnDOT is working through a process that has considered a range of improvement alternatives, identified a recommended alternative, and has assessed the environmental impacts of the recommended alternative. Following the environmental impact analysis, final design was initiated and extended to 2017. Construction began in 2017. Currently under construction, this bridge is now in use.

PE Services served as lead pipe and wall inspectors through the duration of the project. We were responsible for MSE and CIP wall inspection, monitoring construction of all storm sewer (including jacked pipe) and served as the lead inspector on seeding and erosion control BMPs. We also performed materials testing on grading materials, including proctors, DCP, and gradations. PE Services also conducted fresh concrete and grout testing, and bituminous and concrete pavement inspection. Throughout the end of the project, PE Services staff worked with MnDOT in our partnership to maintaining accurate project records and quantity tabulations.