Bridge faces international replacement hurdles

By Ken Johnston
Editor

Plans for a new international automobile bridge between Rainy River and Baudette are moving forward, however several obstacles have been identified in the process.
J.T. Anderson, Resident Engineer for the project with Minnesota’s Department of Transportation, told the Record this week, “There are numerous issues in developing and constructing a project co-owned by entities in different countries that remain unanswered. For example MnDOT cannot transfer funds to MTO (Ontario’s Ministry of Transportation) and vice-versa.”
At a presentation last April to the Canada-US Transportation Border Working Group in Minneapolis, MnDOT, said, “This bridge is fracture critical (non-redundant) and has a sufficiency rating of 48.8 out of 100.” Anderson said that they showed the working group photos of corrosion and stress on the 50+ year old bridge. Anderson did say that many of those problems have been remedied, but the bridge is slated for replacement, no later than 2018.
Last year Joe McKinnon, Planning Engineer with MnDOT said the plans to replace the structure were announced in 2008 as part of legislation passed to replace 120 deficient bridges in the state; including the Rainy River-Baudette International bridge.
Even though it is considered fracture critical, MnDOT has said that the bridge can support normal weight loads but not “permitted” overweight loads or over dimensional loads (over 14.7” high). In the past both high and wide loads have impacted the overhead truss members on the bridge.
In addition to impacts with the structure, it has also been under attack by Microbial induced corrosion which is corrosion due to water-borne bacteria.
In MnDOTs presentation last April it was noted an assessment of the historical value of the structure was completed by Ontario and it was determined there was none so replacement is the best option.
Anderson said that other issues that have arisen between the two countries include different labour laws, different contractor procurement laws and environmental regulations differ. While no solid solutions have been arrived at, Ontario has expressed a desire for both sides to build half the bridge. “One of the ways suggested to overcome these issues was to construct separate, yet closely coordinated projects and meet in the middle, so to speak,” explained Anderson. MnDOT is currently hiring a consultant to look at how this might work, and Anderson said he believes MTO is doing the same.
Another concern is that materials such as concrete and steel need to be kept as uniform as possible so the bridge reacts consistently.
The project could be let to tender as early as 2016 and occur in 2017 or 2018. “Due to the extremely preliminary status of this project, I do not have any detailed information I can share, simply because I do not know,” said Anderson.
Last year the price tag for replacement was pegged at between $50-$70 million.