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March 21

Acrow Bridge Components Aid Restoration of Historically Significant Bridge in Minnesota

Reusable steel systems provide risk mitigation and cost savings to Old Cedar Avenue Bridge project

(Parsippany, New Jersey) – 21 March 2016 – Acrow Bridge, a leading international bridge engineering and supply company, has provided modular steel components to be used for support during the rehabilitation of the historic bridge over Long Meadow Lake in Bloomington, MN. Three Acrow structures are being used for support and access during the restoration, and are being “leapfrogged” forward as construction progresses. It is anticipated that the rented structures will be in use until June 2016.

The Old Cedar Avenue Bridge (also called the Long Meadow Bridge), located in the Minnesota River Valley National Wildlife Refuge, was built in 1920. At the time of its construction, the structure was the longest steel highway bridge with concrete flooring in the state. Because of its unusual design and structure it was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2013.

Despite periodic repairs, however, the condition of the bridge deteriorated and it was closed to vehicular traffic in 1993 and to pedestrians and cyclists in 2002. Although replacement options were considered to restore non-motorized traffic crossing, rehabilitation was chosen due to the bridge’s historic status.

The three Acrow support structures, rented for the job by contractor Kraemer North America, are each 170’ long supported on 35’ tall Acrow panel towers. They are providing support for the existing structure as well as access for construction equipment and personnel. As the in-place restoration work on each of the five spans of the bridge is completed, the Acrow structures are being moved forward to accommodate the job progress.

“The rental of our components for this large-scale restoration has allowed the project to move forward safely and on schedule,” said Jeff Simkins, Midwest Regional Manager at Acrow. Added Bill Killeen, President and CEO of Acrow Bridge, “It has been gratifying to have been a part of this important project to restore a historically significant bridge with an innovative use of the Acrow truss system.”

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